joy is a choice

"joy is a choice"

that seemingly simple and obvious comment has grown to affect my worldview. and i'm letting it affect my worldview more and more every day. that's a powerful statement. joy isn't constant "happiness," i don't think...it's something completely different. happiness can be an expression of joy, so don't hear me say joy is not happiness...just to clear that up. i just think it can be other things too. i think the Biblical presentation of joy is more one of confident expectation and a resting in that, knowing the end result is far better than we imagined. james writes-

"count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (james 1.2-4)

so, essentially, james is like: "hey, i know it's hard, but stick it out. you know the end result...and it's better than you or i imagined, i guarantee it. so don't complain." God won't give us more than we can handle. and he knows a lot better than we do what we can handle. sticking it out...that's worship. paul writes-

"i appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (romans 12.1-2)

that's something i've been grappling with. even when i don't want to renew my mind by studying the word or even praying, it's worship. i can worship when i don't want to? yeah...and i'm called to.

and hey - i do know the end of the story. jesus wins. he has, but he will...for good.
if you're post-millenial...jesus wins
if you're a-millenial...jesus wins
if you're pre-millenial...jesus wins
if you were sprinkled as an infant...jesus wins
if you were dunked as an adult...jesus wins
if you take grape juice for communion...jesus wins
if you drink wine for communion...jesus wins
if you...