If you have heard Baylor’s song Joy Comes in the Morning, you know it’s full of encouragement and truth. Her new devotional series is no different!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading Joy Comes in the Morning, but I was blown away by how it reminded me what a privilege it is to be in the presence of the Lord.

Baylor has a beautiful way with words that makes her so relatable. There are so many excerpts and quotes that I wrote down while going through this devotional because I was thinking, “How cool would this be to write on my mirror in the morning, a place where I can see it everyday?” For example, a quote that really stuck out to me was:

“We didn’t come up with salvation and we didn’t come up with the fruit of the spirit, which includes joy; therefore we can’t create joy in ourselves. It’s a work of the spirit. It’s a fruit of the spirit. And so is love for the Lord. I often ask God to give me more love for Him and less love for the things of this world that are quickly passing away. And I have good news. He always gives me more. He will give you more too, especially if you ask.”

Ask Him for more. How powerful is that? I feel like “more” sometimes has a negative connotation and that’s not fair. It’s not about wanting more, it’s about the posture of your heart when asking. God, give me more patience. God, give me more empathy. God, give me more understanding. God, give me more desire for you. God, give me more joy.

I will never get over the fact that we can sit at our Creator’s feet and present our requests to him. The LITERAL Creator of the Universe. It’s a wild realization, but it’s something we have the privilege to do.

That’s my main takeaway from this new devotional, to sit and ask. Everyday I have the opportunity to sit in the Lord’s presence and ask him what He thinks, ask Him what I need, ask Him what tomorrow will look like. God is willing and beyond able to handle all of our questions, we just need to be willing to ask them.

Baylor, thanks for the reminder that He is our joy!

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2 NLT

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Baylor Wilson Shares CBS Survivor Secrets | This or That