Choosing Joy by Lisa Mick

Psalm 16:11: You will make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Living one’s life in the past is defeating but I did this for years.  Although my life was full of good and bad, the negative seemed to always be alive in my mind.  Have you ever replayed your life choices over and over again?  Even after you have asked forgiveness from your Father and know you are forgiven?

For me, the negative was etched in my mind.  What needed to transpire was a change from negative to positive thinking.  Some sweet person led me to see I was letting this hinder my life in such a way that JOY was not evident in my walk.  Wow!  Could someone really see those secret negative places?  Do our lives reveal what lies in our mind and soul?  You bet they do! That day caused a switch to go off.   I started reading and searching about negative patterns that people let themselves fall into.  As it turned out, I was reading about myself.

 I have known our sweet Heavenly Father almost all of my life but didn’t really walk with Him until a short time ago.  The scripture above states you will fill me with joy in your presence! What does that really mean?  Well, I started a gratitude journal of everyday blessings. Slowly my thought process began to change.  God’s Word and gratitude brought JOY!

A dear friend said to me, “Just choose Joy!” I now understand what she meant.  Realizing that I can’t find joy on my own, I needed to walk with our Heavenly Father hour by hour, day by day and converse with Him constantly.  Choosing Joy means spending time with our Father and letting Him make known to you the path of life.  It means studying His Word, applying it in your daily life and most importantly spending time in prayer with Him.  This in turn fills you up with JOY! 

Choose Joy today in your life; it has made a huge difference in my life and others see it.  We are to be witnesses and shine His light.  I pray He shines thru you as well dear friend. Make the choice to follow Christ and with him you will find JOY!