I Choose Joy

“Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11

it begins as a simple verse in a song we teach our children, but the truth of the words are for us through all our lives.

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy joy, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay…”

Joy is that passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good – Webster’s dictionary 1828

What can we joyfully expect?

First of all…we must know Christ personally as or Savior. We must believe. This brings about a change in our relationship with God. We are now His. And being His we know…we have His presence for life now and we have a future with Him. This is the foundation of our joy!

“For what is our hope, or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” I Thessalonians 2:19,20

Delight of the Mind

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” Habakkuk 3:18-19

What brings delight to our mind – what is our joy?

We have a sure and present assurance of a future possession of a good thing, that is to be in the presence of God. Through Christ we have an assured promise of our future with Him.

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” Proverbs 3:3-6

Be filled with Joy

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13

Paul encouraged the Roman believers to encourage each other, to look after one another. Circumstances for believers then we’re very difficult. Paul was imprisoned. Yet, he found purpose and will to encourage believers to find joy and they found it in the knowledge of the assurance they found in knowing Christ.

A Joy No One Can Take Away

“And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man take the from you” John 16:22

There is nothing in life we can have more assurance of them the love and presence of God in our life. Jesus found joy in going to the cross for our sakes  because he knew that he would be providing for us an eternal joy and a present joy in knowing him personally as our Savior.

No one can take this joy from us.

Choosing Joy Gives You a Song in Your Heart

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him , and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Each day we can be renewed in our faith through our quiet time with God. We can awake with a song of praise and of joy in our hearts….because we believe. Each day knowing the assurance of our faith in Christ, our promised future with God, our present comfort of the Spirit…we can choose joy! Our prospects are good, our present is assured….our desire of one day seeing God is promised in this we can find great joy! Today, I choose joy!