CHAPTER 1

DAY 1

MORNING - A Woman of the Way

You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. GOD, my God, I can't thank you enough.

Psalm 30:11 MSG

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Let's settle down to the fact that you are a woman of the Way. As such, you are weary of being ruled by the world and are ready to embark upon a joyful journey. This does not mean you will ignore the world's myriad of woes, but you will no longer allow them to rule your state of mind or influence your sense of peace. You will expectantly seek and find joy.

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EVENING Finding Joy

We wait for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts find joy. In his holy name we trust.

Psalm 33:20–21 GW

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Lord, I am a woman of the Way and know that I am not to be caught up in the cares of this world but instead be filled with Your joy. Open my eyes and heart to Your Word. Help me to discover Your beauty in the people and things surrounding me. Enlighten my mind and allow the joy I find to feed my spirit. Amen.

DAY 2

MORNING - A Daring Woman

In Christ Jesus our Lord ... we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

Ephesians 3:11–12 AMPC

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When you are filled with shame and discouragement, you may distance yourself from the very source of light, love, peace, power, and joy that has rescued you. Like Eve in the garden, you may find yourself hiding from the very One who could — and already did — save you.

But although weary, sorrow laden, and worn, you know that hiding from God is not the answer. You must and can meet God face-to-face. And because you have faith, you dare to do so!

* * * EVENING - Tapping In

On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:3 NASB

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Lord, I know You will answer when I call. So I refuse to hide anymore. No longer will I allow the burdens of my life to bury me. With boldness I come to You, tapping into Christ's power. Because of my faith in You, I can uproot trees and plant them in the sea. You give me strength in my soul. You transform me from a weak woman into a fearless female. You are the source of staying power.

DAY 3

MORNING - A Free Woman

The Lord came to help Sarah and did for her what he had promised. So she became pregnant, and at the exact time God had promised, she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. ... Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."

Genesis 21:1–2, 6 GW

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Your life in Christ is to be lived to the fullest, not in partial victories and agonizing defeats. You are not to live as a Hagar, a slave to sin, but as a free woman like Sarah. For once she trusted God to deliver as promised, He brought her laughter.

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EVENING Filled with Laughter

Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth. The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Psalm 46:10–11 GW

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Right here, right now, God, I banish all my fear and doubt. I give up trying to fix things myself. I am going to let go of my concerns, leave them at Your feet, and let You take control — because You are God — not me! In this place, Your promises become my reality. I am overjoyed. I am filled with laughter! What freedom I have in You!

DAY 4

MORNING - A Saved Woman

"After her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21 CEV

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So, you are to "let go and let God." But how do you know He will deliver you? Where's the proof that Jesus came to save you? That He is all-powerful? That you are more than a conqueror through Him? That because of all He has done for you, you are to be filled with joy? To find the answers, bring your thirsty heart, mind, and soul to the source, the well of God's Word. Here you will find proof that Jesus did come to save you.

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EVENING - Watered with the Word

"I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord."

Luke 2:10–11 NCV

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Lord, I love Your Word. For in it I find the strength and joy that I thirst for. Thank You for saving me — even before I knew You! Thank You for giving me the power to live in victory. Continue to water me with Your Word. And for the peace that it brings me — heart, mind, and soul.

DAY 5

MORNING - A Debt-Free Woman

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13–14 NLT

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As a believer in Christ, you can be joyful because you are saved — not because you don'tsin. You still miss the mark. But you can find your joy in believing that your debt for sin has been paid in full — through the death of Jesus on the cross.

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EVENING - Showing Gratitude

God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ... So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Romans 5:8, 11 NLT

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Dear Jesus, sometimes I find it hard to fathom that even though I was missing the mark, You gave Your life for me. And because of Your sacrifice, that sin, that huge obstacle standing between me and God, has been expunged from my record. That is a debt that I can in no way repay. But to show my gratitude, I aim to live my life rejoicing in You.

DAY 6

MORNING - The Empowered Woman

I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.

Ephesians 1:19–20 CEV

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Are you living as if you are saved and guilt-free? Or are you exhausted from trying to live the holy life in your own power? Are you hiding, hoping that no one picks up on the fact that your Christian life isn't "working"? Here is where you need to believe you have the power of the One who calmed the sea and stopped the wind. All you need to do to access that mighty power is to let Christ live through you, to trust Him with your life, to honor Him with your mouth.

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EVENING - Forever Saved

He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.

Hebrews 7:25 CEV

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Dear Christ, I want to stop cowering and understand that in every way, shape, and form, I have won more than a victory because of You who loves me. I know through thick and thin, because of You, God is on my side, not just once in a while but over and over again. So I needn't have any fear at any time! That alone brings joy and peace into my heart!

DAY 7

MORNING - A Kingdom Woman

God's kingdom. ... It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.

Romans 14:17–18 MSG

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You know that in Jesus you're saved (see Hebrews 7:25), you've access to power (see Romans 8:31), and you're more than a conqueror (see Romans 8:37). Where then does an expectation or promise of joy come in? It comes in Christ! It comes in trusting Him, applying His Word to your life, living out your faith. Being right with God, inner peace, and joy in the Spirit are the prerequisites if you deem to live in a God's-kingdom palace instead of a spiritual pauper's house.

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EVENING - Rejoicing

"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 15:10–11 NIV

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Lord, as Your good, trusting, and faithful servant, I know You want me to have the same joy Jesus does so that my joy will be as full as it can be. All I need to do is ask for it and I will receive it! I rejoice in that promise!

DAY 8

MORNING - A Daughter of God

We have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!"

Galatians 4:5–6 MSG

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Living in Christ does not promise a trial-free life. You may suffer a loss, have sickness, dashed hopes, and unmet expectations. Jesus Himself was disappointed and angry with people, including His own disciples at times. He, too, suffered His share of loss. But He also had the joy of a deep relationship with His Father God. Because You, too, are a child of God, you have the same freedom and privilege to cry out to Him. And by following in Jesus' steps, walking as He walked, you can have the same joyous relationship with Papa God.

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EVENING - Abounding in Hope

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NASB

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You alone are my hope in this world, Lord. When I rely on things, myself, or others, I am often disappointed. So I'm fixing my focus on You and You alone. As I form a smile, I feel Your joy springing up from deep within. I experience an overwhelming peace in my heart. The power of Your Holy Spirit fills me with hope. Because of You, I can do anything You've called me to do!

DAY 9

MORNING - A New Woman

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Romans 6:4 NLT

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You can have joy even when you suffer, because you know "these troubles produce patience" (Romans 5:3 NCV). So you can and should expect joy in this life. If you don't have joy, you're not maturing in your faith. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith" (Philippians 1:25 NLT). He exhorted his readers to "always be full of joy in the Lord" (Philippians 4:4 NLT). You can trust God to deliver you no matter what your circumstances because you are a new woman in Christ whether or not you feel like it.

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EVENING - Transformed

Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons!

2 Corinthians 5:17 MSG

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Jesus, I need a fresh start every day, every moment! I long to be transformed but know I can only change with You working through me. If I try this in my own power, I will remain the same. So I continue to be encouraged, Lord, knowing that You understand my difficulties and are walking with me, hand in hand, from this day, this moment, forward! Thank You for being so patient!

DAY 10

MORNING - A Returned Woman

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Joel 2:13 NIV

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So, you are a new woman in Christ, whether you feel like one or not. And as such, available to you are love, forgiveness, peace, and joy in Christ — if you stop sweeping your sins under the rug and, mired by guilt, shrinking from His presence. For there's no need to be afraid of Father God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice for you, you can call on Abba! And be assured of the Holy Spirit's comfort and guidance into all truth — about you, how much you may be falling short, the saving grace of Jesus, and the fruit that is found by abiding in and focusing on Him.

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EVENING - Walking in the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV

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I want to walk in the Spirit, Jesus. I want to bear good fruit in this world. Help me to look at others with love; to feel Your deep, abundant joy; to radiate peace to all; to suffer patiently, knowing You'll work everything out in my life; to be gentle with others; to focus on Your goodness; to keep my eyes on You; to be humble in spirit; and to gain self-control.

DAY 11

MORNING - A Sister in Christ

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 NKJV

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You have a "Big Brother" who can and will defend you against all enemies, look out for you, size up your situations, and advise you. He loves you like no other, shielding you from evil, taking on all challengers, gladly bearing your burdens. When others disappoint, discourage, depress, or desert you, He stands by your side. He watches over you as you sleep, guarding the gates. What joy His constant presence gives! But you must be aware of His presence — within and without, above and below, to the right and the left.

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EVENING - Dancing in Celebration

Weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning. ... You have changed my sobbing into dancing. You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy so that my soul may praise you with music and not be silent.

Psalm 30:5, 11–12 GW

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Brother Jesus, I have come to tell You all of my troubles, including my sins. I want to do better. I call on Your death-defying power. I am counting on our Father's protection. I will follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. Wholly aware of Your presence, I sing a new song of joy unto the Lord who sees me as His dear daughter. I dance in celebration of Your saving grace and power.

DAY 12

MORNING - An Open-Eyed Woman

I will see you again, and [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one can take away from you your joy.

John 16:22 AMPC

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Remember that no one can take your joy away from you. Refuse to be like Hagar, sitting down in the midst of your troubles, sobbing, allowing the weight of the world's woes to oppress you. Just like He called Hagar, God is calling you: "'Don't be afraid!' ... God opened her eyes. Then she saw a well. She filled the container with water" (Genesis 21:17, 19 GW). God is and always will be with you. Don't let your faith dry up. Run to His well and tap into His life-giving water.

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EVENING - Energized by God's Goodness

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 NKJV

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Discouragement is keeping me from looking on the bright side of life. Give me courage, Lord; give me hope. Help me to realize that this temporal world is not all there is, that there is a silver lining — and it is You. Energize me for the work I have before me today. Help me not to lose heart but to know, to believe, to have a vision for Your goodness in this land of the living.

DAY 13

MORNING - An Enlightened Woman

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called — his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1:18–20 NLT

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Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, "When you have begun to have some faint glimpses of this power, learn to look away utterly from your own weakness, and, putting your case into His hands, trust Him to deliver you."

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EVENING - Becoming His Vision

I urge you ... by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 12:1 NASB

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My Lord Jesus, I bring myself to You today, straining to hear a whisper from Your mouth, to feel the touch of Your hand, to taste the goodness of Your Word, to see the light of Your presence in my life. I am Yours to mold and shape. Help me to become what You've called me to be, to become the vision You have had of me since the beginning.

DAY 14

MORNING - The Joy-Filled Woman's Path Marker: Promise No. 1

Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

John 16:24 AMPC

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Jesus has promised you a life of joy. He wants you to ask for anything and everything — in His name! He wants you to ask and keep on asking. Don't give up. Believe in this promise. When you do, you will receive whatever you need. And your joy will be not only full, but complete.