Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Choose Joy

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” C.S. Lewis

Are you enjoying the journey of your life? Is it meaningful? Is it an abundant life? Is it purpose-driven? Is it a joyful life?

All too often we choose to have too little joy in our life. That’s because we start to major on the minors. We focus on what is not important rather than what is. It is easy to let uncontrolled circumstances dictate our emotions. Fear, anxiety, anger can be in charge for seconds, minutes even months and years of our lives. When that happens, we are giving away our joy, nobody is stealing it.

Have you ever felt like that? Most of us have. We relinquish the power God gave us. He gave us joy when He gave us the Holy Spirit. John 14:15-17 says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Unfortunately, we are not using what we already possess.

When we understand and embrace that truth it can be a game changer. But first, we need to choose to allow joy to be the byproduct in our moment-by-moment living.

My prayer is that the Pursuit Of Joy teaching series will enable that “a-ha” moment in your life that you can live differently. It is my prayer that you choose joy over fear. Joy over anger. Joy over anxiety and worry. No matter the circumstances.

When our spirit lines up with God’s Word and I begin to choose to exhibit joy because of what God through His Son did for me on the cross, my emotions will get in line and my circumstances become less important.

You can feel happiness even though our days are far from perfect. You can experience delight just because we are alive and we are the children of God. All the other stuff will just fade into the background because you began to choose the joy that is always available to all of us who are followers of Jesus Christ.

Let me make a bold prediction. The more you choose joy, the more joy you will experience despite your circumstances. And it will get easier and easier as you go along.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12

Discussion questions:
1. Do you believe joy is a feeling or a choice?
2. Take a piece of paper and jot down some examples of God’s faithfulness to you, no matter the circumstances. Stop at 10. Does that list impact your trust and confidence in God?
3. In your prayer time, say “thank you” before you jump directly into your list of wants and needs, no matter how pressing those may seem. Thank God for his faithful love, the daily help of his Holy Spirit, and his provision for you.
4. Remind yourself of the importance of rejoicing by searching the Bible—both Old and New Testaments—for God’s instructions in this area. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us it’s God’s will that we “rejoice always” and “give thanks in all circumstances.”
5. Ask God for His help if you struggle showing joy. It’s not all up to us; God’s there, waiting to give us joy. John 10:10 (AMP). It says, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

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