JOY

Is joy a choice? Yes, I believe it is!

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

In the holiday season emotions can run hot. The past collides with the now. Family gatherings sometimes can stir up old and sometimes new entanglements that haven’t yet been dealt with. But we want so badly to be joyous. 

That joy can be ours if we choose it. Jesus gives us a reason for joy each day. Look for it, grab it and spread it around!

It’s not about who has come & gone in your life, it’s not about the approval of others, it’s not about reaching the top of the career pole, it’s not even about you!

It’s solely about JESUS and who HE has brought into your life for you to love & receive love back, it’s about HIS unconditional love and grace-filled approval, it’s about HIM directing you where you can bring HIM the most glory. It’s about JESUS living within you!

Psalm 16:11 You make known tome the path of life; you will fill me with JOY in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Joy is the brave response!

I don’t know about you but my life has not always been a Pocketful of Sunshine. He tells us until the day we come to be with him life will not be easy. But he shows us a better way. Our response tot he hard times is the proof of how fully we trust him.

Psalms 20:5 says, May we shout for Joy over your victories and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.

In the darkest of moments we feel alone. But when we let Jesus into our life, into our day today trials his presence will be shown. And because of that presence Joy will prevail in our walk. Our words will be words of love and kindness. Our darkest moments will pass with the next day’s light.

Psalm 21:6 surely you have granted him an ending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

We are awake in our mornings and walk through life seeing with our eyes only what we want to see. We feel with our heart only want we want to feel. We can be selfish beings, processing those things and not considering others. But if we truly have the Lord living within us, radiantly Shining, allowing love to come  into our hearts and open our eyes wide to those around us then the outcome of our life will be filled with Joy and that Joy will be spilled over into the lives of everyone else around us.

Psalm 19: 8 The precepts of the Lord are right,giving Joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

How do we find the joy in times of trouble?
                                                         
Romans 12:12 says Be Joyful in Hope, patient in affliction,faithful in prayer 
                                      
That sums it up!                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Our hearts are the most important organ in our bodies. Everything works because our heart is working. If our heart should grow weak then our bodies will be weak but if our heart is strong we will have a better chance of being strong. What do we want to fill our heart with, joy or anger? We can choose who and what we take into our lives which will determine the    status of our heart. The process of determining that can sometimes be painful but the long term results will be for life.

Psalm 126:5 “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of Joy.”

When we walk through our days with the past lingering over us, we live in fear of the hidden becoming light. But when we allow the past to only live in our past then our future lives in truth and is bright.

Psalm 30:11 “You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with JOY.”

Climb to that highest mountain and shout it with all your strength! Share it with your neighbor! Live it amongst your family! The JOY is yours, He is showing you reasons to have it with each new day, with each new experience, with each new person that comes your way. Share it, give it freely! That is the way He wants you to live!

Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of JOY.

Be aware of your words and fill them with Joy. Be intentional with your speech when you share those words. Be the light that brings HIM the glory as you walk.

Psalm 33:3 “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully and shout for JOY”

I praise the Lord in all I do.  I trust in Him for everything.  I am nothing without Him.  I am everything with Him.  He is my protector and justifier.  He love unconditionally and always.  He walks with me through my joys and my trials.  He leads me when I am lost.  He holds His hands out so that I can find Him.  He is a Good Good God!

Psalm 5:11  But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing Joy. Spread protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Lord because of You I have JOY in my life.  Amen!

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