Waiting on Wednesdays: Praying for Joy

Recently I have been given two devotionals by two different friends on the subject of JOY.  Could it be that God is trying to tell me something here?!  The verse that has continued to swirl around in my head and heart over these past few months of intensive prayer and waiting is 1 Thess 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  There is not much ambiguity here.  No room to sit and pout and wonder "what are we suppossed to do God in the midst of our waiting?"  It's crystal clear.  We're to rejoice in the Lord, pray like crazy, and give thanks to our great God who we KNOW is up to some kind of crazy, mighty, earth-shattering, amazing goodness.

Today's prayer focus is on asking for JOY for us, and for other families pursing adoption who are bearing up under the weight and grief of mile-high drama and deferred hope.  Adoption is warfare.  Since Paul asked for prayer for himself for kingdom-advancing purposes, I thought it only biblical as well to ask for it today too for our family and others like us who are seeking to honor God by bringing orphans into our homes.  So here's how you can pray for JOY us, and for our friends in the adoption trenches. 

The following outline of ways to pray for joy comes from the devotional "Rejoice Always" by Joy Ridderhof.  There is an online version of this devotional found here.

Lord, Please help us and our friends wading through the deep waters of adoption drama to count everything as joy.

- even in disappointment
- even in the wilderness
- even when it tries our patience
- even when we're helpless
- even when we see no answers
- even when we must wait

Father, help us to make it our CHOICE to rejoice...

- when burdened
- when weak
- when staggered
- when facing impossibilities
- when fearful
- when all seems dark
- when distressed

Jesus, teach us how to rejoice in you

- in adversity and trial
- in the darkest hour
- in our great need
- now and always
- in Your great power
- anticipating answers
- expecting blessings

 "Weeping may tarry for the night, but JOY comes with the morning." 

 Psalm 30:5. 

Come Lord Jesus.  Bring the morning.