More Choices

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.  I admit it, I don't feel like rejoicing.  But I will rejoice because in spite of my feelings, God is good.  He is faithful, He is the giver of life and the Redeemer of my soul  So I will rejoice.


I used to think/feel that I had to feel the emotions to do the rejoicing.  Yet I've learned that many times the opposite is true.  I have to rejoice to begin feeling like rejoicing.  Rejoicing is just like worship in that it is a choice.  In our current, feel good society, we often don't understand that it isn't about how we feel.  It is good to feel the Holy Spirit and to have Him gently wash over you with a wonderful feeling of peace and joy.


But there are the days, like today for me, when I look at the current circumstances in my life and I say 'I just need to praise God anyway'.  Thanking God and rejoicing or mentioned numerous times in the scripture but in none of those mentions do you find it saying 'rejoice if you feel like it' or 'thank God because everything is awesome'.  It says to rejoice because the Lord made this day.  It may be a day of tears, it may be a day of heartache but we are still to rejoice.




We aren't told to thank God FOR everything but rather we are told IN everything give thanks.  In the trial, in the grieving, in the uncertainty, in whatever happens thank God because He deserves our thanks.  Recently, it has been for me about thanking Him IN the trials, IN the confusion, IN the pain.  But I am still thankful that He holds my future in His hands.


I will rejoice because He is worthy.  I choose to rejoice.  I choose to trust Him.  I choose to wait for His direction.  I have not always made these choices and I've seen the heartbreak it can bring.  I choose life in Christ because it is the only life that can sustain me.


What do you choose today?  Are you overwhelmed?  Tired? Depressed? Worn out?  Choose Jesus, He is the answer for each of those problems.