Everyday Prayers for Joy: A 30-Day Devotional & Reflective Journal for Women

by Gina L, Smith, Brooke McGlothlin (Foreword by)

Overview

What is joy? We can receive fleeting moments of it when we watch sunlight break through the clouds, or see a little child laugh as he blows apart the fluff of a spent dandelion. But there is only one source of true, lasting joy—and that’s our Savior, Jesus.

During a season of unknowns, God opened His Word to author Gina L. Smith and taught her His definition of joy so that she could experience it deep in her heart. He helped her realize that she had been finding joy in His blessings, rather than in Him, the source of those blessings. And she learned how to “count it all joy” (James 1:2) come what may.

Everyday Prayers for Joy is a thirty-day journey through God’s Word that will help you discover the joy that God wants to share with you. He is with you always and can work out all things for good. Fill yourself to overflowing with God’s joy! 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641238267
Publisher:	Whitaker House
Publication date:	01/04/2022
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	388,111
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.34(d)

About the Author

Gina L. Smith is an author, podcaster, and a prayer mentor for Million Praying Moms.

Gina and her husband Brian have been married for more than three decades. They served as the on-campus parents at a Christian college for more than twenty years while Brian was a professor and dean of students. They mentored hundreds of college and seminary students as well as young couples over the years.

Gina has a degree in Bible studies from Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary. She has written for several organizations, including Million Praying Moms. She is also the author of Grace Gifts: Practical Ways to Help Your Children Understand God’s Grace.

Gina and Brian have two grown children and reside in the metro area of Washington, D.C. To connect with Gina, visit www.ginalsmith.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction 11

The Think, Pray, Praise Method of Daily Prayer 16

1 Joy Found in Good Gifts 20

2 Joy Found in Our Living Hope 25

3 Joy Found in the God of Hope 29

4 Joy Found in Being Found 34

5 The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength 39

6 Joy Found in Refreshing Others 44

7 Joy Found in Worship 48

8 Joy Found in an Apt Answer 52

9 Joy Found in the Morning 56

10 Joy Found in Loving Our Brother 60

11 Joy Found in Being Ready 64

12 Joy Found in Sacrifice 68

13 Joy Found in Comfort 72

14 Joy Found in Giving 76

15 Joy Found in the God of My Salvation 80

16 Joy Found in God's Presence 85

17 Joy Found in Our Place in Christ 89

18 Joy Found in God's Word 93

19 Joy Found in Promoting Peace 97

20 Joy Found in Hope 101

21 Joy Found in God's Faithfulness 104

22 Joy Found in the Search for God 108

23 Joy Found in Shared Pain 112

24 Joy Found in God's Promises 116

25 Joy Found in Pouring Out Your Heart 120

26 Joy Found in Speaking Words of Trust 124

27 Joy Found in Praying Past Betrayal 128

28 Joy Found in Seeking Forgiveness 132

29 Joy Found in the Prayer of Lament 136

30 Joy Found in Praising God 140

About the Author 144

Editorial Reviews

I have often remembered lessons I’ve seen lived by the Smiths. While I served overseas as a missionary, Gina’s devotions hugged me from across the globe with her tangible, transparent transcriptions of God’s Spirit working out His salvation and sanctification in her life. I want to grow ultimately like Christ, but in this life, I’d add, like Gina, from glory to glory until we are before Him with unveiled face.

Missionary, International Mission Board - Katie Rymer

Gina consistently helps me look at the world, and think through the situations I encounter, through the lens of the gospel. I listen to her because I know this commitment of hers to the Word of God is hard-worn. She doesn’t give advice lightly. Her guidance comes from her own experience of having to fight for biblical joy when the world presses in. Those are really the kind of people I like to listen to most…the ones who have refused to let go of Jesus no matter what He allows in their lives. You’ll find that kind of attitude, along with a friend who truly desires to serve you, inside Everyday Prayers for Joy.

Million Praying Moms Brooke McGlothlin and cofounder

Gina Smith takes readers on a thirty-day journey to joy! The author recognizes that the most effective pursuit of joy is through Christ-centered prayer and praise. We have personally witnessed over twenty years of Gina’s sustained joy, even through dark and difficult seasons of life and motherhood. Read through this book and feel like one of the many who sit at Gina’s kitchen table, coffee mug in hand, crying out in prayer to the Source of all joy, Jesus!

Instructor, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary - Ronjour and Annie Locke

In the twenty-some years I have known Gina, her walk with God has been a constant example and encouragement. God’s call into deep valleys grew in her a steadfast dependence on His grace and a deep love for Christ and His people. Her humble, compassionate voice teaches us to allow God’s Word to shape our souls as we fight for joy on our knees, trusting that as He meets our needs with Himself, He will give us fullness of joy.

Pastor’s wife, Hartland Center Community Church - Stephanie Van Gorden

Gina Smith is the kind of woman you’d meet for coffee and leave with a lifetime friend. I know because that happened to me. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Gina since we were young adults. She is warm, engaging, wise, full of integrity, and has a wonderful sense of humor. She faithfully follows after God and has a passion to encourage women in their faith journey. I know you’ll be blessed by her words.

Susan Hein Counseling - Susan J. Hein

Gina Smith is a woman of God’s Word. She studies it, seeks it out, and works hard to apply it in her daily life. She’s also a woman who loves sharing what she learns there with those who are walking just a few steps behind her. She has a heart for prayer and mentoring women in their walk with Jesus. That combination means she is worth listening to!

Praying Through the Bible in a Year Tricia Goyer

As longtime friends, local pastors, and blessed recipients of Gina’s loving ministry, we are beyond excited for her impactful life to be shared with multitudes through this book! Not surprised, we knew it was only a matter of time before the Lord expanded her ministry, allowing her faithful diligence and constant pursuit of the Lord to truly shine and become contagious to a wider multitude of readers. Open your heart and get ready to receive our friend’s wisdom because it’s that of someone who has years of experience not only mothering her own children and sharing a beautiful love with her husband, but also opening her doors and heart to countless college students and young couples. Her constant yes to loving others is rare in this world, and it speaks to her heart’s surrender at Jesus’ feet. As you read, we pray that this love would flow from His heart, through her words, right into your spirit and situation.

Pastor, NewSong Church, Vienna, VA - Pastor Jordan Shimon and Kelsey Shimon

Honesty. It’s what we need in a devotional. We don’t need fluffy words and cute sayings; we need to hear from someone who doesn’t pretend to be anything other than who she is, broken and imperfect, but redeemed and beautiful, with a story that will draw you in and make you want to know the Lord in a deeper way. We need someone like Gina Smith, who isn’t afraid to give us a glimpse into the good, bad, and ugly parts of her life. Gina reminds us finding joy can be a struggle and Jesus knows that, but with her insightful words and stories, she gives us the tools to navigate life’s messy, gut-wrenching parts. Everyday Prayers for Joy is loaded with deeply honest and personal revelations, along with biblical truth and practical ways to live it out. This is one devotional you will come back to again and again.

Kate Battistelli

Gina consistently helps me look at the world, and think through the situations I encounter, through the lens of the gospel. I listen to her because I know this commitment of hers to the Word of God is hard-worn. She doesn’t give advice lightly. Her guidance comes from her own experience of having to fight for biblical joy when the world presses in. Those are really the kind of people I like to listen to most…the ones who have refused to let go of Jesus no matter what He allows in their lives. You’ll find that kind of attitude, along with a friend who truly desires to serve you, inside Everyday Prayers for Joy.

Author and cofounder, Million Praying Moms - Brooke McGlothlin

Gina Smith is a woman of God’s Word. She studies it, seeks it out, and works hard to apply it in her daily life. She’s also a woman who loves sharing what she learns there with those who are walking just a few steps behind her. She has a heart for prayer and mentoring women in their walk with Jesus. That combination means she is worth listening to!

Author, Praying Through the Bible in a Year - Tricia Goyer