A Plug for Grace Oasis: Rejoice Today, Don’t Let The Enemy Steal Your Joy

 

The below is a transcription from this video by Grace Oasis, a wonderful prayer and Biblical meditation channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBtqrVH27gM

Before we pray, let’s first take a moment to listen to God’s Word, and then we’ll pray together.

Some mornings don’t feel like a reason to rejoice. You wake up tired, weighed down, thinking about the battles you still have to fight. Life often tempts us to measure our joy by our circumstances. A good report makes us glad. A setback steals our peace. But the Bible teaches a different rhythm. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Bible doesn’t say, “This is one of the many days” or, “This is a day among others.” No, it says, “This is the day.” That means the day you are living in right now, this very moment, this sunrise, this breath, is a divine gift straight from the hands of God. And because it comes from Him, the only fitting response is to rejoice and be glad. Let me ask you a question: what else can you truly do but rejoice when you realize the creator of heaven and earth has granted you another day? What else can you do but be glad when you understand that this day was not promised to you, but given freely of His mercy? Every morning you wake up, you have been handed a fresh opportunity to live for God, to glorify His name, and to walk as His ambassador on this earth. I encourage you today, choose joy. Rejoice, not because your circumstances are perfect but because you belong to Jesus. As a child of God, you have access to strength beyond your own, peace beyond your understanding, and hope that cannot be taken away. You have the endurance to outlast the storm, the faith to withstand trials, and the power to silence the devil himself, all because you have Jesus.

Now think of the words of Jesus: in John 10:10 it says, “the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” There is a spiritual battle over your joy. The enemy knows that if he can steal your joy, he can weaken your faith. If he can kill your hope, he can paralyze your walk with God. If he can destroy your peace, he can keep you trapped in fear. And sadly, I’ve seen it happen far too often: believers who once walked with confidence in God suddenly burdened and defeated because the devil whispered lies into their hearts. But while the thief seeks to steal, Jesus came to restore. While the enemy tries to kill, Jesus came to give abundant life, a life marked by peace, joy, purpose, and hope, even in the face of trials. I understand life can hurt. There are moments that wound deeply, situations that leave you feeling crushed, and disappointments that make you question everything. But in those moments, your reaction matters. You can let bitterness grow, or you can run into the arms of Christ. You can dwell in discouragement, or you can let the Lord heal you and lift you up again. The prophet Isaiah gives us a promise: in Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” That is what happens when you place your hope in God. He renews your strength. He lifts you higher than your circumstances. He carries you when your legs can’t walk another step. He puts courage back into your heart when fear has drained it away. With Him, you are not only able to survive life’s storms, you are able to soar above them. I may not know the specifics of what you’re going through today. I may not know the weight on your shoulders, the questions in your heart, or the battles you are silently fighting. But what I do know is this: God has not forgotten you. His Word speaks into your situation with clarity and hope. Listen to what He says in Jeremiah 29:11: “ ‘for I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.’” That means, even when you don’t see the road ahead, God sees it. Even when your life feels uncertain, His plans for you are steady. Even when you feel like everything is falling apart, His purpose for your life is still intact. He holds the blueprint, and He has not abandoned His work in you.

So, dear friend, rejoice. Rejoice not because everything is perfect, but because you have a perfect God. Rejoice not because you know all the answers, but because You know the one who holds them. Rejoice and be glad because the Lord has already gone ahead of you, preparing a way, shaping your steps, and writing a story of redemption in your life. Maybe right now your circumstances are heavy. Maybe the pain feels unbearable. Maybe you don’t feel like rejoicing at all. But find just one reason today to rejoice. Maybe it’s the fact that you woke up this morning with breath in your lungs. Maybe it’s the fact that God has promised never to leave you. Maybe it’s the fact that His mercies are new every morning. Even in the darkest valley, there is always one reason to praise. And as you choose to rejoice, even in the small things, you will find that joy begins to grow. Gratitude will shift your perspective. Faith will rise in your heart. And you will discover that no matter what comes your way, you can face it with confidence because this is the day the Lord has made. So walk into this day with gladness. Speak life into your heart. Pray with thanksgiving. Worship even when it hurts. Declare God’s promises over yourself and over your family. Refuse to let the enemy steal your song. Refuse to let your circumstances dictate your joy. Instead, anchor yourself in the unchanging truth: God is good, God is faithful, and God is with you. Yes, life will bring both sunshine and storm. But in both, you have reason to rejoice. Sunshine reminds you of God’s blessing, and storms remind you of His power to carry you through. Either way, you are never abandoned. So today, choose joy. This day, rejoice. This day, declare with all your heart: “this is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Now, let’s take a moment to pray together:

Heavenly Father,

You are a great and mighty God. You are my Redeemer, Lord Jesus, the Lamb Who was slain and King Who reigns forevermore. You are our Deliverer, the One Who broke the chains of sin and led us out of captivity into the freedom of grace. You are the One Who speaks light into darkness, peace into chaos, and hope into despair. And today, Lord, I come before You with a heart of gratitude, lifting up my voice in worship. As Your Word declares in Psalm 118:24, I boldly declare: “this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Father, I thank You for this new day. Thank You for the gift of life, for the very air I breathe, for the beating of my heart, for the strength in my body, and for the thoughts in my mind. Thank You for giving me the ability to praise You. Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I have failed to rejoice in the goodness You continually pour into my life. Forgive me for the moments when I have allowed complaints to overshadow gratitude, when I’ve let circumstances steal my joy instead of resting in Your presence. Forgive me if I have ever treated grace lightly or forgotten the price Jesus paid for my salvation. Lord, I don’t ever want to take You for granted. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me when I feel overwhelmed. Life can often weigh heavily on my heart, but You are my Helper and my Comforter. When I feel trapped under the weight of my troubles, meet me where I am. When it feels like there’s no end in sight, wrap me in Your peace. When I feel like giving up, breathe new strength into me.

Open my eyes, Holy Spirit, so that I can see the countless blessings God has already placed in my life. Help me to recognize His fingerprints in the little details and His faithfulness in the big moments. Lord, protect me from the negativity of this world. Guard my heart so that the bad reports, the chaos, and the darkness around me do not steal the joy You have planted within me. Remind me daily that I already have victory in Christ Jesus. As Your Word warns, the enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy, but I refuse to hand over my joy to him. I stand firm on the truth that Christ has already overcome. Your Word says in Psalm 119:162: “I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.” Father, thank You for Your Word, which is more valuable than gold, more nourishing than bread, more refreshing than water. Thank You for the Scriptures that provide me with comfort when I am anxious, with assurance when I am uncertain, and with hope when I am weary. Your Word reminds me not to fear, because You are with me. Your Word tells me not to be dismayed, because You are my God. Your Word promises that if I trust in You, You will keep in me perfect peace. Your Word tells me that You order my steps, that You go before me, and that You surround me with Your presence. For every one of these promises, I have countless reasons to rejoice.

So I pray, Holy Spirit, help me not only to read the Word but to live it. Plant it so deeply in my heart that it becomes my meditation day and night. Help me to recall it when temptation comes, to speak it when fear rises, and to believe it when doubt whispers. Make me a person whose lifestyle reflects constant trust in Your Word. Father, I hold on to the promise of Matthew 21:22: “and whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Thank You, Lord, for such a promise. You care about the cries of my heart, the tears on my pillow, the silent prayers no one else hears. What a wonder it is that the infinite, all-powerful God is also my loving Father.

For this, Lord, I will rejoice. I rejoice not only in answered prayers, but even in the waiting, because I know You are faithful. I rejoice in Your presence, because it is better than life. I rejoice in Your mercy, because it renews every morning. I rejoice in Your protection, because You command Your angels concerning me. I rejoice in Your provision, because You supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory. Lord, thank You for health in my body, for peace in my home, for the gift of family and loved ones. Thank You for protecting me from dangers I never saw. Thank You for shielding me from attacks that never touched me. Thank You for doors You’ve opened, and even for doors You’ve closed, because You see what I cannot see. Thank You for every sunrise, for every quiet night, for every blessing big and small. Holy Spirit, help me to live each day with a heart that gives God glory and praise. Help me to live with joy that is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in Christ. Teach me to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. I declare that this is the day that You have made, Lord, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Be blessed now and forevermore, King Jesus. All glory, honor, and power belong to You. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

If this prayer has touched your heart, please type “Amen” as a sign of faith. I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you, in the name of Jesus. And if you need a special prayer, feel to let us know in the comments. We would be honored to pray for you. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.