The Contented Life Daily DevotionalSample

The Choice Is Yours

Every day, you make thousands of choices, some consciously and others subconsciously. These choices start from the moment you wake up. Will you read your Bible and pray? What will you wear? Will you shower? What will you have for breakfast? You've already had to make a myriad of decisions, and you haven't even left the house yet!

But did you know that you can also add choosing gratitude and joy to that list?

As the Psalmist says, "I will rejoice and be glad in it." It sounds like the writer is making a choice, an act of his will to rejoice. So, how can you choose gratitude and joy as a daily discipline?

You can read God's Word and try speaking it out loud. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17), so speaking His word will build your faith!

What if you decided to start each morning by speaking Psalm 118 instead of reaching for your phone (other than to turn off your alarm)? What if your second move of the day was to use your voice to acknowledge God? "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. God, thank you for this day." Already, your morning has started in a place of gratitude.

According to cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf, "It takes 21 days to form a long-term memory and 63 days to form a new habit." You can make today day one. Today is the day you can choose gratitude and joy, ultimately leading you to contentment.

---
By: Ale Policar