Choosing Joy

by | Jan 5, 2017 | Whitney's Witness

Thursday January 5, 2017

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

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Unfortunately, it is a lot easier for me to find something to complain about, rather than rejoice about. Joy doesn’t come very natural to me. However, I have found that the more I strive for joy, the easier it becomes.

Joy isn?t an emotion that is constantly gushing out of our lives without us having to think about it, or something that is naturally present without Christ?s enabling grace.

Joy is not just a feeling, it is an attitude that comes from a choice.

Joy is not dependent upon our situations, though our situations will try to determine our attitude.

Joy can become a fruit that is always available and growing in our lives, but we have to cultivate this fruit of the Spirit.

As we choose to consider Christ and what He did for us, as we turn our hearts thankfully to Him, and as we look to Him in trust, we are also making the choosing the sweet fruit of joy.

If you aren?t considering Him, you will grow discouraged and weary, but by considering Him, we can find the strength to live life with joy.

Sometimes we just have to ?take joy? even though we may not want to.

The Bible says ?Rejoice, and again, I say, rejoice.?

Today, choose joy. Choose Jesus.

Prayer: “God, thank you for being the reason for being joyful. Help me to be full of joy and rejoice always. In your name I pray, Amen.”

-Whitney Flach