Today we’re wrapping up a conversation about choices.
We’ve said that our lives are shaped choices we make. Choices, even small ones, change the course of our lives in pretty significant ways.
Today, I want to highlight the 4th choice that I believe can make a big difference in your life. These four choices are simple but powerful.
Choice # 1 is to Love God
Choice # 2 is to Love People
Choice # 3 is to Pursue Excellence
Choice # 4 is to Choose Joy
This is an attitudinal choice. One of my favorite verses about joy is Psalm 100:2: “Serve the LORD with gladness.”
I have days when I do this pretty well. And I have days where it seems harder than it should be. I want more good days than bad days. My guess is that’s true for you as well. What I’ve learned is that my attitude is a choice. That’s true for you as well.
Your attitude is a choice.
Choosing Joy
1. Be Joyful
Our happiness is dependent on our happenings — our circumstances. True joy is independent of our circumstances. True joy comes from a deeper place, a relationship with our Heavenly Father that brings security and peace, even in the hard times.
2. Be Positive
Are you a glass-half-empty or glass-half-full kind of person? If you are typically a half-empty kind of person, you may end up struggling with being a negative person. We typically get more of what we look for. So if we are looking for what’s wrong, we’ll see even more of it. This can lead to a downward spiral.
3. Be Encouraging
Jesus’ half-brother, James, reminds us that life and death are found in the tongue. (See James 3.) What that means is that our words can help or hurt. They can heal or create wrongs. One of the most tangible ways to choose joy is to intentionally use words to create life and encourage others.
It all comes down to choices. These choices are relatively simple in concept, but deep in application. Give them a try. Put them into practice for a month. At the end of the month, reflect back and see if these 4 choices haven’t made a positive impact on your life.
Love God.
Love people.
Pursue excellence.
Choose joy.
I’m cheering for you as you do!
