05/22/2026
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: "Walking in the Joy of Christ"
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"Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers." (Psalm 1:1 NLT)
Psalm 1:1 reminds us that the blessed life is the life shaped by Christâs presence. Our joy doesnât come from following our own impulses or the worldâs opinions â it comes from walking closely with Jesus, letting His Word guide our steps.
Those who belong to Christ learn to pause before choosing, to listen for His voice, and to follow His ways rather than the pull of the flesh. We donât want to make decisions simply because they feel good or seem normal to the world. We want to choose what honors the One who lives within us.
The wicked, by contrast, follow their own desires without concern for Christâs teachings. They normalize what God calls sin â even things like gossip, slander, and stirring division. The enemy is subtle; he loves to make sin look harmless as if it is âjust human nature,â or something that God will overlook because He loves us. BUT... that mindset twists grace into permission, and grace was never meant to be abused....
True blessing is found in walking with Christ, resisting the worldâs patterns, and letting His Word shape our hearts. His presence is our joy, our strength, and our steady path.
PRAYER: "Father God, please help me to be able to discern what thoughts are from you, from me, and from the evil one. i know that the devil will do anything to try and get me to stop believing in you, but i also know that no matter what happens, Satan cant ever separate the love you have for me. forgive me for the times i abused your grace and went against what i know to be true. Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. i know that without you, i am nothing. i want my identity, my trust, and my faith to be in you, always. In Jesus name i pray, AMEN"