Choosing Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always."  Philippians 4:4

I read this verse recently, and it stood out to me.  My life currently is very simple due to my health situation.  In particular - my numb feet from neuropathy.  A good portion of my day revolves around various treatments.  Some days are very dull and boring.  I don't always "feel" overflowing with joy.

But as I pondered this verse, I realized that joy is a "choice," daily, hourly, moment by moment.  I can experience the Lord's joy even when I'm going through hard times.  His joy is available to me in any hardship, any suffering, any adversity, any discouragement.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

Every morning when I get up, before I even get out of bed - I speak out some of the Lord's promises to me and ask for them for my day.  This verse is one of them.  I ask the Lord to fill me with His joy - which is my strength for the day. 

As I go about my day, I consciously look for things to express my joy in the Lord.  When I get busy, I try to stop and focus on thanking the Lord for things in my day - which releases joy.  I've come to understand that joy isn't something that just hits us - it's something we choose and work at.  And the benefits are awesome! 

I recently watched the movie "The Jesus Revolution" that was on TV here.  It was made in 2023.  It was a trip down memory lane.  While it was happening in Calif. and other parts of the US - we were experiencing it in Afghanistan, and later in Amsterdam.  Those were special days!  And one of the characteristics of it was, you guessed it - JOY.  There was such overwhelming joy in the hearts of all the young people coming to know Jesus!  It was contagious.  Many worship songs that we sing today came out of that time of spiritual revolution.  I found my self praying for it to come again!

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."  Psalm 90:14

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."  Psalm 21:6

When we walk in the "joy of the Lord," everything in life takes on a different perspective.  What a blessed gift His joy is!

Joy Unspeakable

I've had a few rough days recently.  I never know what's ahead, so when it's a hard day I have to be careful to protect my heart and live above the circumstances.  It's so important not to let my health challenges drag me down emotionally and spiritually.

A friend recently learned of some big health issues.  She said "I didn't sign up for a character building course, but I'm enrolled anyway."  I chuckled, and thought how I could so relate.

I continually ask the Lord to fill me with His joy, and to protect my mind from negative thoughts. If I find my mind drifting to doom and gloom because of my situation....I stop myself and begin to speak out God's goodness and faithfulness.  It shifts my focus immediately, and gets my thoughts and my emotions back to the place of having the "joy of the Lord" in my heart.

Besides our own individual situations, there are so many difficult and discouraging things happening in our world.  It's easy to come under the heaviness of these things and become despairing.  But if we become hopeless and defeated, the enemy wins.  We have to keep our eyes on Jesus, pray for the difficult situations, speak out God's goodness and faithfulness, and keep hope alive in our hearts for all God wants to do.  He rules over all!

"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."  Proverbs 17:22

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Romans 12:2

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:10

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you."  Ephesians 1:18 

"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord."  Psalm 112:7

Through the past challenging years when I have walked through some of the hardest things, I've found that it is possible to have "joy unspeakable" as I allow the Holy Spirit to fill my heart and mind.  I couldn't have survived if I had come under the cloud of all that was happening.  But His power, grace, and strength helped me rise above those things and walk in His light and presence.  He is so incredibly good!