10 Days of Unspeakable JoySample

Choose Joy

I often hear Christians say “choose joy” as if it is just the easiest thing to do. Here’s the thing; it really is that easy. It’s a choice. In Deuteronomy, God says, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life . . .” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). He wants us to not hesitate to choose life! God also says, “So do not fear, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) meaning, don’t do it! It is a simple choice. Everything in the Bible is a choice for you to receive or to reject. You have a choice to be upset or you have a choice to make every situation an opportunity for joy. Joy comes from inside of you! Nothing can take your joy unless you allow it. One time, I was so excited because my husband had agreed to participate in recording a video for my podcast with me. Instead of him being as excited as I was, like I wanted him to be, he was just lying there scrolling on his phone. I was so mad in that moment that I started arguing with him and telling him he needed to be more excited. Oh, ha-ha, how many times do we get upset because people don’t respond how we want them to. The Holy Spirit was quick to tell me, “Tara, you have a choice right now, you can continue on with this day and it will continue to get worse, or you can just choose joy and happiness.” I could feel my flesh arise and the feeling of pride wanting to stay angry because, to the flesh, it feels good. Thankfully, I decided in that moment to choose God’s word over my feelings. I mean, after all, I am writing a joy devotional, so I better be living it!! I went and apologized. We did not record our podcast, but we ended up having the best night. We took the kids to park, we played pickleball, and we went to dinner.

Reminder: Your flesh will always fight you when you are in a situation to make a choice for GOD, but Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world (1John 4:4)! Just choose GOD!

Application time: Write down the last time and situation, in detail, where you chose God over your feelings. Take note of how great it felt afterwards to choose life!