Be Joyful by Joyce Meyer

Meyer provides fifty days of readings on joy. These are not fluffy devotions nor sweet stories. While joy is a fruit of the Spirit, Meyer reminds us it comes through love and self-discipline.

I like how she distinguishes joy and happiness. I like her saying joy is not getting what we want. She has found that life's greatest joy comes from helping others. We are never promised a trouble free life yet can have joy in the midst of our circumstances. Paul did not say we are to rejoice in our circumstances, Meyer writes, but rather we are to rejoice in the Lord at all times. (663/2182)

Other insights about joy include avoiding arguments, forgiving, thinking about godly things, letting go of the past, and remembering that God has given us everything we need to have a wonderful day. (249/2182)

I had to laugh at one devotion because Meyer reveals the error of taking a verse out of context. “No one has seen or imagined,” she writes, “all the good things that 'God has prepared for those who love him' (1 Corinthians 2:9)” (491/2182) The next verse says those very things “are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” Oops.

This is a good collection of teachings on joy, receiving it and sustaining it. Most of the devotions are like brief Bible studies. Meyer adds a couple of questions at the end of each devotion for further thought.

You can watch the book trailer here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find restoration and hope in Christ. Her program, Enjoying Everyday Life, airs around the world on television, radio and online. She teaches internationally how the Word of God applies to our every day lives. She has authored more than 135 books, translated into more than 160 languages, with 37 million of her books distributed free of charge worldwide. The mission arm of her ministry, Hand of Hope, provides worldwide humanitarian programs such as medical and dental care, relief after natural disaster, and human trafficking intervention and rehabilitation.

FaithWords, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)