For Choosing Joy

For Choosing Joy

I ONCE INTERVIEWED A WOMAN who reminisced joyfully about having her electricity cut off. Although it was a tough financial season, she grew closer to her husband. The couple would have romantic, candlelit, canned-food dinners after their children went to bed. And they learned how to be rich in joy while they were poor in material things. Not surprisingly, this couple didn’t stay poor for long. Within five years of their joy-filled poverty, they became millionaires.

Joy is a choice. Unlike happiness, it cannot be stolen when our circumstances change. Joy prays, “I can rejoice because God is with me; I can sleep because the Lord has already carved out a way.”

The apostle James wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come . . . consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2).

Choosing joy doesn’t mean ignoring reality. But in the words of Walt Disney, it means “around here . . . we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward”—with our eyes on what’s good.

STRENGTH IN THE WORD

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

TODAY I DECLARE

Nothing will steal my joy.

PRAYERFUL THOUGHTS

Dear Lord,

I long for the joy that always lasts. Therefore, place me on the path that leads to you. For in your presence, there is fullness of joy, and at your right hand, there are everlasting pleasures. Wherever I am, please remain with me. Wherever you go, don’t leave me behind.

During life’s highs and lows, every peak and valley, I’ll choose joy—because you’re with me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

KEEPSAKE

“Be rich in joy.”