Very simple verse, but not so simple to live out. How can we be joyful when someone cuts us off in traffic? How can we be joyful when we got very little sleep last night and we have what seems like a thousand things to do today? I think being joyful is very much a choice we make. Although it is truly a gift of God, we will not have joy without Him, it is very much our decision to handle things with joy. However, being joyful does not mean being happy at negative or bad things. It means treating other people patiently and lovingly, and accepting God's will in all circumstances, positive or negative. And this leads into the second half of the verse, "never stop praying," because it is not possible to always be joyful unless one is always praying. Joy comes from the Lord, and prayer is the way in which we communicate and connect to the Lord. But prayer doesn't necessarily mean you always have to praying the Rosary or saying an Our Father. Offering up a difficult homework assignment, dedicating a workout, or being grateful for the sunshine you see are all ways of prayer. By having a heart of gratitude, it is easy to make every moment into a prayer. This week I challenge you to pray in a way that you haven't in the past. Offer up a daily activity that you haven't offered before as a prayer to the Lord. Rely on the Lord as your strength and your joy.
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