Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;

let those who love your salvation continually say,

“The Lord is great!”—Psalm 40:16

Those who look to him are radiant with joy;

their faces will never be ashamed.—Psalm 34:5

Young lions lack food and go hungry,

but those who seek the Lord

will not lack any good thing.—Psalm 34:10

It’s Black Friday! I don’t know what you usually do on Black Friday, but I spend the day out and about. For a few years, it was all about finding the best bargains. As time progressed, it became a day shared in laughter with friends and family and not so much about what I could get at a bargain price. I’ve discovered that Black Friday is one of the best people watching days of the year. It’s also a day to find the oddest clothing or trinkets that you never knew you or your friends needed. You don’t have to look hard to find things that cause one to smile or laugh on Black Friday, but you do have to look.

That’s the way it is with God. We want to see His goodness, but we don’t look. We spend so much time looking at ourselves that we don’t see the blessings and joy God gives us. Seeing God’s goodness requires that we get out of ourselves. We must seek Him. When we open our eyes to God, we see the greatest gift ever offered, salvation. When we open our hearts and receive that gift, joy will be abundant. That joy is a result of God’s grace, love, mercy, and abundant blessings found in seeking Him.

Unlike the smiles and laughter of my Black Friday experiences, we don’t have to wait for a special day to enjoy the blessings of God. Abundant joy is always available when we look to the Father and have an intimate relationship with Him. Seeking Him will bring the greatest joy we can experience in this life!