September 26
The Command
to Be Joyful
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Daily Steps
This verse provides the new believer with a concise summary of the active spiritual life, combining the key disciplines of joy, endurance, and prayer. It commands us to cultivate joy not as a feeling, but as a deliberate posture rooted in our hope—the future certainty of Christ: Be joyful in hope.
The peace in this principle is found in active cultivation:
The Anchor of Hope: The joy we are commanded to have is rooted in hope. This refers to the certain, future promise of redemption (Day 225), the return of Christ, and the ultimate eternal reward (Day 263). Because this hope is secured by God's faithfulness, our joy is guaranteed to be lasting happiness (Day 264).
The Posture of Endurance: This joy is paired with the necessity to be patient in affliction. This echoes the truth that suffering produces perseverance (Day 265). Our joy is the strength (Day 261) that enables us to endure trials without becoming angry, bitter, or losing our peace (Day 222).
The Foundation of Power: The final link is to be faithful in prayer. All spiritual strength—joy, patience, and endurance—flows from continuous, disciplined communication with God (The Discipline of Prayer, Day 260). Being faithful in prayer is the practical way we draw on our hope and cultivate joy.
Your peace is secured by active cultivation. Embrace the Discipline of Prayer and the Legacy of Joy today by choosing to Be joyful in hope, knowing that this deliberate joy is the source of your patience in affliction and the greatest witness to your certain future.
Reflective Question
If your joy is based on the certainty of your future hope in Christ, how can you use that hope to choose patience in affliction right now? What is one specific promise that makes it easy for you to Be joyful in hope today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the certainty of my eternal hope. I pray for the discipline to Be joyful in hope regardless of my current circumstances. Grant me the patience in affliction that only Your Spirit can give, and strengthen my commitment to be faithful in prayer. Secure my peace today in the knowledge that this active joy is my strength and my spiritual legacy. Amen.
