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THE JOY CHOICE
(Matthew 4:17 NLT) From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
(Nehemiah 8:10 NIV) “. . . Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Joy comes when I….
• Know that God has a PLAN FOR MY LIFE.
(Hebrews 12:2 NIV) . . . For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Psalm 16:6-11 NIV) The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.. . . . Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
• Certain that God will WORK IT OUT.
(1 Peter 1:8 NLT) You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
• When I CHOOSE JOY.
(Philippians 4:4 NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
(Deuteronomy 30:11-19 MSG) This commandment that I’m commanding you today isn’t too much for you, it’s not out of your reach. It’s not on a high mountain—you don’t have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it’s not across the ocean—you don’t have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it! Look at what I’ve done for you today: I’ve placed in front of you Life and Good, Death and Evil. And I command you today: Love GOD, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by GOD, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess. But I warn you: If you have a change of heart, refuse to listen obediently, and willfully go off to serve and worship other gods, you will most certainly die. You won’t last long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call Heaven and Earth to witness against you today: I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.
Joy comes when I . . . .
1. Choose to LOOK BEYOND what happened.
(Philippians 1:12 NLT) And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
2. Choose to find the NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
(Philippians 1:13-14 NIV) As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
3. Choose to focus on WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
(Philippians 1:15-18 NIV) It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
√ Today I CHOOSE JOY.
