As I have pondered joy this week, I keep coming back to the quote that Pastor Chad said, “Happy depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus.” He also began to encourage us to choose to rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Philippians 4:4

I love words. I like to look up what their original meanings were. I find it fascinating and the word rejoice does not disappoint. If someone asked me what rejoice means I would have said, “to be full of joy and to the fullest.” And yes, it does mean that but that is not its first meaning. Rejoice means “to own, possess, enjoy the possession of, have the fruition of.” Oh can you hear the rumblings of the joy wanting to explode out of you!!

Pastor Chad said, “the amount of joy I have is tied to the amount of rejoicing I do.”

What are we rejoicing over? How do we re-joy ourselves?

Romans 5:11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER! WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, WHAT WE POSSESS! We have Christ – Colossians 1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Sometimes I just think things are happening to me. If I am happy – its because something is happening. If I am sad, its because something is happening. But this joy from Jesus is something that I get to choose. When I choose to remember what He has already done, this place of remembrance is a sweet space to rejoice and re-joy myself in who He is. He is all I need.

Answer these questions:

Read Psalm 51:12. How does the joy of your salvation in Jesus inspire you to rejoice?

As I was writing I was thinking about how the scripture says that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Remembering what He has done for me can be hard when I am hurting and circumstances have gained my focus. Keeping His sacrifice in view and remembering regularly where I have come from is a good practice for re-joying myself. He saved me! I am alive in Christ! Amen!

What does choosing to rejoice in all circumstances look like for you practically? Write out what steps you will take next. 

Step One: Stop running and searching for something to make me happy. Step two: Turn to Christ daily and remember who I am in Christ and what He has done in my life and how far I have come. Step Three: Thank Him and tell somebody!

Joy needs to be shared! Go tell three people what you are rejoicing in this next week. 

All is grace,

Starla