Written by: Jennifer Satterfield
Philippians 4:4
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
Growing up, my pastor's wife always used the phrase, "I Choose Joy!" As a child and a teen, I did not understand truly what that meant. The longer I live, the more I realize how important this Scriptural principle is.
This world is full of miserable people and sadly some of them are Christians. The Lord convicted my own heart that we cannot be effective to the world if we seem miserable to them. They should see the joy that only knowing Christ brings. Something should be different in our lives, and some days that is hard when life brings difficulty. But with the Lord, I can CHOOSE JOY every single day!
Joy means passion or emotion excited by the expectation of good; the delight of the mind from assured approaching of good. We have approaching good and as a Christian that is Heaven.
Here are a few other verses about joy.
Proverbs 17:22, " A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."
Psalm 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy."
Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 34:1, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
CHOOSING JOY IS INTENTIONAL!
How many times do we allow physical or emotional things to rob our joy?
I can spend every day focusing on what I don't like, the problem I have or just questioning how God is going to do it all, OR I can choose joy and leave it to the Lord.
Let's be honest, we can all make a list of struggles and worries, but we have a God that is bigger than all of that and His word that reminds us to look to Him!
HOW TO CHOOSE JOY:
1. Shifting My Perspective to the Good
There is always something to be thankful for. ON my worst day, the Lord has still been better to me that I ever deserve.
Reading His Word and praying are necessities to keeping this perspective right. According to statistics, only 30% of evangelical Christians read their Bible every day. That is disheartening because people are missing out on the great help that they need each and every day. It's hard to be miserable when the Lord fills every aspect of your day!
Habakkuk 3:18, "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
We have to quit wallowing around in the difficulties of life and get our focus on the Lord who has saved us.
2. Remember Past Victories
When I am struggling, the best thing I can do is to start remembering all the Lord has done in my life. He has blessed me over and over again. Why would I want to focus on what I am struggling with. He has proven Himself over and over again, so I can trust Him with each new struggle I may face.
Psalm 105:4-5, "Seek the Lord, and his strength: Seek his face forevermore. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done."
The day after I was saved, my daddy was diagnosed with cancer. It began a 10-year journey of fighting that terrible disease. But what I remember most about those years is my daddy and my mama always pointing others to Jesus. My daddy had the most joyful spirit and that was because He chose joy even when it was hard. He trusted the Lord when it seemed all hope was lost. He impacted many through His life. His passing was the hardest thing I think I have ever faced but remembering how He trusted the Lord helps me even to this day. If the Lord helped my daddy through that journey of life, then He can certainly help me today.
3. Cultivate Joy
Cultivate means to labor, study, cherish, improve, and advance
Nehemiah 8:10, "...the joy of the Lord is my strength."
My joy comes from the Lord not from others or what others expect of me. I have to cultivate what the Lord is doing in my life.
STOP trying to seek perfection; just keep pursuing the Lord. If I am pleasing the Lord, then I can have joy.
4. Finding Joy in Christ ALONE
Joy is not found in my circumstances or in what I am able to control. Joy is found ONLY in the Lord and His work in my heart and in my life.
Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Paul wrote this after he had been shipwrecked, beaten, left to die, and a repeated thorn in the flesh.
Suffering shows us how much we need God in our lives. If I can learn to choose joy even in those circumstances, I will be content with the life God has given me.
Discontentment is prevalent and it is very real this day and hour. Social media, fast food, and instant connection have caused us to become dissatisfied people. We allow our emotions to lead to discontentment. We have to choose to not allow those emotions to take over, but to CHOOSE JOY!
We should not only CHOOSE JOY when it is easy or convenient! We should choose joy because of all the Lord has done for us!
Christ shines through us the most when we have joy no matter what is happening in my life. This is spiritual growth. Look to HIM!
What is the thing that keeps you from having joy? Ask the Lord to restore your joy and help you to CHOOSE JOY every day that He gives you.