Joy Is One Choice Among Many

Here’s what I LOVE about having different translations of the Bible available to me. I woke up this morning with this overwhelming sense that I need to CHOOSE JOY. It seemed like a good idea, but I wanted to know if there was any support for this in God’s word… like has He TOLD me I NEED to choose joy?

Now I typically read the New King James Version, not because I think it’s the ONLY translation worthy of being called God’s word… no… I read it because it most resonates with me, helping me connect on a deeper level than others. So, I went to old reliable and here’s what I found.

16Rejoice always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV

I like that. I do. But I was looking for something a little more JOYful (mostly, I was looking specifically for the word JOY). I mean, I guess I could say the letters “j-o-i” make a JOY sound…

So, I continued my search and found this:

16Always be joyful. 17Never stop praying. 18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

THERE IT IS! Always be JOYFUL! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for!

In spite of whatever I might be facing today, in spite of whatever circumstance I might need to push through today, I need to find the JOY in it all! Doesn’t that sound dang close to impossible? I mean COME ON… sometimes we go through some stuff that vastly opposes joy, in fact it takes us clear across to the other end of the spectrum. It doesn’t matter. Rejoice ALWAYS. ALWAYS be joyful. That’s not even a PROMISE, that’s a COMMAND. My interpretation…

I God says I can do it, I can do it.

I’ve already experienced His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus. I’ve been saved, rescued, picked up, brought through, carried, made new. I’ve got EVERY REASON TO CELEBRATE! I should have to search for reasons NOT to be joyful because I’ve already experience the PEAK, the PINNACLE, the TOP of the mountain in Jesus!

So, whatever is it I’m going through today, whatever it is you’re going through today, if you know Jesus, you can CHOOSE JOY! Don’t settle for a bad day. Don’t settle for frustration. Don’t settle for bitterness. Don’t settle for anxiety and depression. Don’t settle for less.

CHOOSE joy!

Reflect:

• What has God done through your life through Jesus? If you call him ‘Savior,’ what has he SAVED you from?
• What are the different circumstances, situations, and relationship that are making it difficult to see JOY?
• How could your day, week, month, or life be different if you ALWAYS were joyful?