I Can't Do Everything, but I Can Do EverythingUddrag

Joy is a decision

In the first four chapters of Philippians, Paul mentions the words happiness, joy and rejoice twelve times in total. You can tell it was a very important matter to him. But the joy and happiness that Paul talks about are not based on optimism or mental positiveness, but are based in a complete and total trust that God is in control of all things, no matter the situation or challenge we are facing. 

In Philippians 4:4-20 I love that Paul started speaking like this: " Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus..."

Joy is a decision that we have to take as people of faith, no matter the circumstance we have to go through.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said: "We follow such a polite God, who mandates us to rejoice. Shouldn't we obey such mandate right away ? In the end our God's intention is for us to be happy". 

It is God's desire that we live with joy, He wants us to live happy.

You've probably asked yourself, is joy really a decision?

In Philippians, the translated word for joy or happiness is the word "chairo". The root comes from the word "charis", meaning "grace". This means that our joy is not circumstantial, but it's based on the grace of God.

Our joy is not based on our circumstances or experiences, but it's instead based on the grace that forgave us our sins, that erased our past, that opened up a way for us to walk with our good and faithful God.

What do you allow to steal your joy?

Perhaps at this moment you can't leave your house or can't go out to work. You may be limited by your current situation and there are a lot of things you can't do, but what you can do, is decide to be happy.

When we understand that the fundament of our joy is the grace of God that transformed our inner self and opened up a way to a new life in Christ, we understand why the joy is a decision.

Don't allow the current situation that you're going through steal your happiness and limit your joy! Make the decision to be happy!

Prayer: Lord, help me to focus on Your grace in tough times. Help me to make the decision to be happy, no matter what's going on around me. Thank You, because it is by Your grace that we live full of joy. Amen.