7-day plan: Joy and thanks
Joy and gratitude that do not depend on everything going well, and the feast God prepares.
One passage a day, with a question to think it over. Your progress stays on this device, no account needed.
Day 1 · Rejoice in the Lord
A psalm celebrates the day as a gift from YHWH
This is the day YHWH has made; let us exult and rejoice in it.
Psalms 118:24 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does this passage say about what God is like?
Day 2 · Give thanks in everything
Paul joins always rejoicing, praying without ceasing and thanks in everything
Rejoice always. Pray unceasingly. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in the Messiah Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Which word or phrase stays with you, and why?
Day 3 · Joy in the midst of trial
Habakkuk rejoices in God though there are no figs, grapes or cattle
Though the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no yield on the vines, the work of the olive lies, and the fields do not produce food, the flock is cut off from the fold, and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in YHWH; I will rejoice in the Elohim of my salvation. YHWH Adonai is my strength, and he makes my feet like those of the deer, and on my high places he makes me walk. For the director. With my stringed instruments.
Habakkuk 3:17–19 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What situation in your life does this passage speak to?
Day 4 · God's feast
After hearing the law the people weep, and Nehemiah sends them to eat and share with joy
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who made the people understand, said to all the people, “This day is holy to YHWH your Elohim; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. And he said to them, “Go, eat rich fatty foods and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to the one for whom nothing is prepared, for holy is the day to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your stronghold.” And the Levites were quieting all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; and do not be grieved.” And all the people went to eat and to drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that they had made known to them.
Nehemiah 8:9–12 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What does it invite you to do today, even something small?
Day 5 · Rejoice in the Lord
Paul asks us to rejoice in the Lord always, and says it again
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Paul invites us to think about what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy (v. 8). What good thing could you think about today?
Day 6 · Give thanks in everything
A choir of thanks where every verse ends the same: his loyal love is forever
Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good, for his loyal love is forever. Give thanks to the Elohim of the gods, for his loyal love is forever. Give thanks to the Lord of the lords, for his loyal love is forever. to him who does great wonders alone, for his loyal love is forever.
Psalms 136:1–4 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
What would you like to say to God after reading it?
Day 7 · Joy in the midst of trial
Beaten and jailed, Paul and Silas sing hymns at midnight
And the crowd rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. And after laying many blows on them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to guard them securely. He, having received such an order, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. And about midnight Paul and Silas, while praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:22–25 · Read the whole chapterTo think about
Paul and Silas prayed and sang on a very hard night (v. 25). What gives you courage when you go through a night like that?