In Depth Devotions for Christians

Choose Joy

Choose joy, what does that mean? I don’t know about you but I know in recent months that has not been easy. It means plastering a smile on my face and continuing on pressing forward. But was that really being joyful or choosing joy? It was simply just living not even in the moment really. I press on to the mark set before me. But not every human is a religious person or a Christian at that. So what does that look like to nonbelievers? What should it look like to believers? We are told to emanate the light of Jesus in our lives. When going through the trails the test and the pain do we do that? I have found myself asking this question time and time again lately. Confronted with the passing of two dear ones in my life, my mother and my aunt in less than 5 months between each death. I find myself seeking and wanting the family connection that was lost in the growing up years for whatever the reasoning. I find it more and more necessary than I once did. I think about all that could have been fostered in those years instead of the silence. But it’s not just my physical family I long to reconnect with but also my church family and my heavenly father. Pressing in is one way a believer shows their faith so many would bulk and run preferring to not face the problem the test because the fear of it being to great. Luckily I’ve was never given that option or maybe rather not luck. Over the past three years my mantra has been pressing on moving forward dealing. Now I look at a different idea an add on if you will pressing on and choosing joy in the midst. Dancing in the rain knowing the thunder is about to sound and lightning strike but not caring because I know who created both. I face an up hill battle but I am surrounded by heavens armies many of whom came before me. They continue to intercede for me pressing into the one who can save me as I continue to do the same. It’s not about how big the battle is because it is already won it is about how big the one who already won it is. And he created the heavens and the earth and all things in both so he is over it all.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

you have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalms 30:11-12

Love you all! Press onward toward the mark and CHOOSE JOY ALWAYS!

Annetta Marie