Billy Graham
Unto The Hills, A Daily Devotional
JUNE 23
LOOKING FOR JOY IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES... View MoreBilly Graham
Unto The Hills, A Daily Devotional
JUNE 23
LOOKING FOR JOY IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
For God is love. 1 JOHN 4:8
Some years ago there was a popular song which included the lyrics, “I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places.” What a profound statement that is.
A Christian song puts the despair of looking for love in the wrong place in perspective: “You have searched in vain for something; now you don’t want that something you’ve found.”
How often have you found what you were looking for, only to realize it did not bring the satisfaction you thought it would? It is the ultimate frustration. That frustrating search, which never ends if we are looking for fulfillment in the things of this world, was never expressed better than on a bumper sticker I saw. It said, “All I want is a little more than I have now.”
We look for love, acceptance, and joy in our careers, in money, in power, in all sorts of material things, but if they really brought lasting joy, would we not have testimonies from millions of people around the world to that effect? Wouldn’t someone have written a book by now, the title of which might be, I Found Joy, Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness in My New Mercedes-Benz?
The rest of that Christian song I mentioned goes, “put Jesus first in your life, and turn your life around.” Order is very important in most everything we do. By putting Jesus Christ and His will for your life first, everything else will fall into place. When Christ is out of order, or way down on your priority list, your whole life is upside down.
Try putting Christ first and watch how your life is turned around. You will discover where the love, peace, joy, and acceptance you’ve been searching for is to be found.
Our Father and our God, I know that true joy comes from being one with You and Your Son, Jesus. I pray for increased trust and faith in You, Lord, and less confidence in the things of this earth that will pass away. Help me look for joy in the right place—in Christ Jesus, my Savior, in whose name I pray. Amen.