Devotions-Choose-Joy

Choose Joy

1. Today I Choose Joy

Michael had a stress test on his heart and as I was sitting and waiting, I noticed a poster on the wall. It had sunflowers and across the bottom it said, “Today I Choose Joy.” Can it be that simple? Can we just choose joy? I have mentioned before that when I am really low I start giving God thanks for the things He has done for me. I thank Him for the people in my life, and for my home, and church, and how He provides my needs. It always helps me to be thankful to the Lord and a heart of gratitude does wonders to change my attitude. But, can we really choose joy? Let’s try it. I know we still have some cold, dark days of winter left, but let’s focus on the brightness of our Savior and praise Him. Let’s choose joy!

“1 <<A Psalm of praise.>> Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100)

2. Joy Unspeakable

I know so many who are going through storms and trials. Pain and suffering is hard. The days are long and sometimes the nights seem longer. But as Children of God, we have hope in the Lord and that gives us a joy that the world can’t understand. We can “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:3-9)

3. The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength

I like to follow a theme for the devotionals. I pray and ask the Lord to lead me in the direction He wants me to go. Sometimes God speaks to me through reading the Bible, or through a sermon, or song that I hear. I read the poster that said, “Today I Choose Joy” and I felt like God was leading me to choose joy as our next devotional theme. God knew just what I needed this week. I had a high fever Thursday night and went to the doctor on Friday. I have Covid. Michael is also sick and I believe that he has it, too. Because I am focused on joy, it is easier to get through the high fevers at night. I remember Psalm 30:5, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” When we seek the Lord, He gives us the strength and help we need to get through the hard times. In choosing joy, we can say with Nehemiah, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) I am thankful that the Lord is helping me focus on the joy of the Lord during this hard week.

4. Garden Joy

I like to begin my Bible reading on the first day of January in Genesis. Reading 3 or 4 chapters each day I can learn more from the scriptures and finish the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in a year. I had just begun when I came to a verse that spoke to me. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15) Psalm 84:10 speaks of being a doorkeeper in the house of God, but it would be amazing for me to be a keeper of the Lord’s garden. The book of Revelation speaks of the tree that bears twelve fruits, and the marriage supper of the Lamb, so there will be food in heaven. It would be such a joy for me to be a keeper of the heavenly garden. It’s that time of year when I start thinking about and planning my garden. I told Michael that I want to plant some beets, and those can be planted early, so we went to Southern States to get some beet seeds. There were two long shelves of seeds, plus more seed packs at the checkout. Michael told me to go ahead and get all the seeds I needed. I found my beets, and also squash, and watermelon, and cucumbers, and zinnias which I plant with the cucumbers, and dill for the pickles, and well… lots more. And I was all smiles when we came out the door. Michael said, “I like to see you happy, and I knew this would make you happy.” He’s right. I enjoy everything from planning and planting, to weeding and gathering. During the spring and summer months I go down to the garden and hoe, or whatever needs to be done, and I always thank God for letting me have my small garden. Sometimes I sing to the Lord. I wait eagerly to see the first little plants come up. I plant radishes early because they come up so fast. It gives me joy to see little bees in the clover next to the garden. As the Lord provides the sunshine and rain, I praise Him as I watch it grow. I learn patience, waiting for the harvest. And it gives me even more joy when I have enough to share with others. God gives us a wonderful promise in Genesis 8:22, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” I am praying that God will help me and bless my little garden this year. That’s one of my greatest joys!

5. Complaining Takes Away Our Joy

Do you remember the joy you had when you got something you really wanted? It may have been a puppy when you were a child. You were so happy and you played with it, but later you got tired of feeding it, taking it for walks, and cleaning up after it, and you lost that joy. Maybe it was your first car. You looked forward to driving and you didn’t care if it wasn’t a new one. It was your car. Then you had to fill it up with gas so often and had repairs to pay for and you may have lost joy in that car. Sometimes things bring us great joy, but after a while we get tired of them. We may have clothes hanging in our closet that we used to like, but now they look a little worn, and we aren’t happy wearing them like we once were. These are simple examples, but I wanted us to see that when we lose sight of God’s blessings, we can lose our joy and start complaining. When we complain it displeases the Lord. When the Lord was leading the Children of Israel through the wilderness and they wanted something to eat, God provided. I’m sure they were happy when God rained manna from heaven and all they had to do was gather it. Exodus 16:31 says that “the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” But after a while they lost sight of God’s blessing and started complaining. I can’t really say much about them because there are times I “want something different,” even though I have plenty of food in the house. When we grumble and complain then we need to look at the blessings God has given to us and be thankful. If you seem to have lost your joy, then count your blessings and give thanks to God above. Remember James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” When we think about all that God has given us then it will give us joy.

“1 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.

3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

4 And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

7 And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.

8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.” (Numbers 11:1-9)

6. Nature Expresses Joy And Praise To God

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the multitudes shouted praise to Him. “Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.” (Luke 19:38-39) Jesus told them, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:40) God gives us joy to express our praise to Him. I don’t want the rocks and stones to have to praise the Lord in my place. There are several places in the scriptures that tell us that God’s creation praises the Lord. The book of Psalms ends, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6)

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:7)

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." (Isaiah 49:13)

"But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name." (Isaiah 51:15)

"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth." (I Chronicles 16:32-33)

“They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.” (Psalm 65:12-13)

"The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves." (Psalm 93:3)

"Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice" (Psalm 96:11-12)

"Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein." (Psalm 69:34)

"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together " (Psalm 98:7-8)

7. Habakkuk Had Joy In The Lord Even In The Hard Times

Have you ever heard someone say, "You wouldn't believe it if I told you"? Habakkuk asked the Lord how long he would have to cry out against the iniquity and violence and the wrong judgment in Judah. The Lord replied, "Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you." (Habakkuk 1:5) In this little book God told His prophet of the impending judgment that was coming.

“6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.

7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.” (Habakkuk 1:6-9)

What could the prophet say? He had cried out to God because of the violence and sin. He ends by saying that he is still going to praise the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation. May we continue to sing praise to our God and have joy in the Lord of our salvation.

“17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 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. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

8. Expressions Of Joy

Sometimes when we experience great joy we “shout for joy.” When a favorite team wins a game the spectators shout for joy and many jump up and down. After getting five children through school, when my last child graduated from high school someone asked me if I cried. I told her, “No, I shouted.” Sometimes we shout, and sometimes we cry with joy. I cried after the birth of my children from the wonderful joy. When someone gets saved by God’s grace, we may shout or we may cry tears of joy. The book of Ezra tells us that Cyrus, King of Persia, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Some cried, and some shouted, but they all had joy.

“10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:10-13)

We may think that the bands and stadiums of people are loud today, but at that time the people rejoiced so loud “the noise was heard afar off.” It is wonderful that we can express our joy in shouting. But, it is also good that God gives us a spirit that we can express our joy in tears.

9. Share The Joy Of Salvation

I woke up last night and looked to see what time it was. 3:23. The bright numbers were shining in the darkness. 3:23. My thoughts immediately went to Romans 3:23. That is one of the first Bible verses I memorized. My Sunday School teacher encouraged our class to memorize the verses of the Romans Road of Salvation, and that is the first one. She wanted us to be able to tell someone how to be saved. Even though we were young, she encouraged us to share the joy of salvation. “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” (Psalm 35:9) We can be a light in a dark world. Do you know these verses? A simple way to explain them is as simple as A, B, C.

Accept that you are a sinner, with no other way of salvation but by Jesus.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Confess your sin to Jesus and trust in Him.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. " (Romans 10:9-10)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

10. Wonderful Joy

From the very first day I thought about choosing joy as our theme a great old song has been on my mind and in my heart. Every night at some point, my mind starts singing this song. Every. Night. I go to sleep singing it, or I wake up at least once singing “Wonderful Joy”. I am thankful that the Lord gave me such great encouragement during our bouts with Covid. He truly is Wonderful! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) The joy of the Lord makes my heart sing. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98:4) “Wonderful Joy” was written by Shirley Wilson and Elsie W. Murphy in 1966.

“Wonderful Joy”

1. When I was sinking in despair, Jesus heard my earnest prayer,

Saved my soul, made me whole;

Oh, such joy He did impart, placed His love within my heart,

Then He took my sins away and gave me joy.

CHORUS

Wonderful joy, unspeakable joy,

I have joy the world can never take away;

Some sweet day I’m going home,

And I never more shall roam,

I’ll have joy, joy, joy, wonderful joy, wonderful joy.

2. Some of these days I’m going there, and with loved ones I shall share,

Heaven’s land, ‘twill be grand;

We shall all be happy there, never have a pain or care,

And we’ll rest from all our strife and live in joy.

11. A Special Joy

There are three things in the Bible that were called “unspeakable”. Two were described by the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth. The first was God’s unspeakable gift and the second were the unspeakable words of paradise. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift… How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (II Corinthians 9:15 and 12:4) The third thing is the unspeakable joy that we have through salvation. Peter reminds us that even through our trials we can still have unspeakable joy through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:6-9)

Barney Elliott Warren wrote a song titled, “Joy Unspeakable” in 1900. It is a great old song that I enjoy singing.

“Joy Unspeakable”

1 I have found His grace is all complete,

He supplieth every need.

While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,

I am free, yes, free indeed.

Chorus

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Full of glory, full of glory.

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory;

Oh, the half has never yet been told!

2 I have found the pleasure I once craved;

It is joy and peace within.

What a wondrous blessing! I am saved

From the awful gulf of sin.

3 I have found that hope so bright and clear,

Living in the realm of grace.

Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near;

I can see His smiling face.

4 I have found the joy no tongue can tell,

How its waves of glory roll!

It is like a great o’erflowing well,

Springing up within my soul.

12. He Received Him Joyfully

Luke tells about a man that wanted to see Jesus. He was short, so he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus as He was to pass that way. You may remember singing the song about Zacchaeus, the wee little man, when you were younger.

“1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.” (Luke 19:1-6)

Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully! Do you remember when you received God’s gift of salvation joyfully? How the heavy burden of sin that you carried was lifted and you found peace and new life in Jesus? As time passes and we fall to temptations, and storms of life get us down, we get tired and weary. Our heaviness and guilt rob us of our joy. After David’s great sin he confessed his sin to the Lord and asked God to restore his joy. We serve a great God who is loving and forgiving. We can go to Him in prayer and He can restore our joy.

“1 <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.>> Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Verses from Psalm 51)

13. Will We Reap In Joy?

Michael and I both had Covid and were supposed to isolate for five days, or later if it took longer for our fevers to end. It really wasn’t hard to stay home because we didn’t feel like doing much anyway. We spent most of the time eating, sleeping, and watching TV. We watched old movies and when one would come on I would say, “Oh, I know him. What have I seen him in?” Then I would look on IMDB to stir my memory. After looking up one, and noticing the year he died, I had a question for Michael. “Do you ever wonder if these famous people are in heaven or hell?” He agreed that he does. When I hear of someone that died I almost always wonder about the soul of that individual. Heaven, or hell? Those are the only two choices. John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” is just as sure as John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If someone is not saved, then that person is lost. It’s too late for us to think about the souls of those who already died. But, if we consider the reality and torments of hell, we should pray earnestly for those who are lost. Psalm 126:5 tells us, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” There have been some friends and family members that I wept over in prayer for the salvation of their souls. But, it has been a while. One day it will be too late to tell them about Jesus. If you have never asked Jesus to save you, please don’t delay. Accept the truth that your sin must be paid for. Believe that Jesus came and died to pay the punishment for your sin and He is the only way to heaven. Confess your sin to Him in prayer and ask Him to save you. Please don’t wait until it is too late.

“4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:4-7)

14. Joy To The World The Lord Is Come!

Today is the first day of March. The year is going by so quickly. It is hard to believe that two months have passed since Christmas. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem there was great joy. We can only imagine the joy when He comes again as King Of Kings, and Lord Of Lords.

“8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)

The Lord is coming again. Are you ready to meet the King of Kings?

“11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)

Isaac Watts wrote the song, “Joy To The World” in 1719.

“Joy To The World”

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King!

Let every heart prepare Him room,

and heav'n and nature sing,

and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ,

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,

nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

far as the curse is found,

far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace,

and makes the nations prove

the glories of His righteousness

and wonders of His love,

and wonders, wonders of His love.

15. Rejoice And Be Glad

This is our last devotional on choosing joy. I hope that these two weeks have encouraged you to choose joy. I want to close with two familiar verses that can help you to continue to choose joy. First we have a reason to choose joy today. “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Then, we have another wonderful reason to choose joy tomorrow. It is the Lord’s Day and we can go to church and rejoice in the Lord. We missed several church services and I missed the fellowship we have with our church family. I missed the songs of praise and worship and learning from God’s precious Word. I can truly say with David, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1)

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