The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:3)
Live It Out
There is a huge difference between joy and happiness. You can experience joy without feeling happy, but you can’t experience happiness without being joyful.
Happiness is a feeling that changes with the emotions we have in a day, but joy is a constant state of being that we choose.
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. (James 1:2, AMP)
Today at church the Pastor preached on James 1:1-8. The sermon was excellent and reminded me that through all circumstances I can consider it pure joy because God will refine my faith. I can tell you my faith has been tested and tried many times. I’ve often looked for my break in difficult times, but my break doesn’t come in the form that I’m looking for. God has great plans for our lives and we need to be paying attention, so we don’t miss a thing.
“Consider it pure joy…”
Start with complete joy. Never let the fact that you are going through something keep you from being joyful. You have been given a great gift. Jesus came to live, die, and be resurrected for you. Find joy in the life you have been given and live it well!
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)
This is just one of the verses I enjoy starting my day with. I determined a little while ago that before I open my eyes to what the day has, I will choose to be joyful over my day. I will choose to find joy in my experiences. I will choose to find joy in the tough times. I will choose to find joy even when what God’s doing doesn’t make sense to me! I choose to have a joyful day!
Why don’t you try this out and see if it works for you? Tomorrow morning, before you open your eyes to a brand new day. Repeat two or three verses of joy to yourself. Declare that you will have joy in the day that God has provided for you! Here are a few verses to get you started.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
This last week I was watching a show with Michael J. Fox in it called, “The Incurable Optimist” and a lot of it I wanted to apply to my Christian walk. The world has some great ideas about hope, joy, and happiness. I pray that we do not let them outshine us. May we see what David wrote in the Psalms and apply it to our daily way of thinking. May we wake up each morning and rejoice in the day God has given us. Our days on this earth are numbered, the very breaths that we take have been given to us by God, and the opportunities we have to share the hope God has given us through Jesus Christ are slipping away. We need to cease every opportunity we are given to share the hope that is within us and live with an incurable joy. May the world look at us and see that we have a joy that can’t be shaken.