Step 1: Choose Joy
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4
We are going to begin a new seven-part journey, diving into what it means to develop a healthy thought life. The first step is all about joy. Not random happiness or good vibes, but the kind of joy that comes from choosing to rejoice in the Lord no matter what is happening around you.
The verse shown above is not a suggestion. It is a command. God is not saying, “Rejoice if your day is going well.” He is saying, “Rejoice always.” That means when things are going great, and when they are not. When prayers are answered, and when they feel ignored. Joy is not tied to your circumstances. It is anchored in your Savior.
Jesus said something powerful in John 15:11. He said, “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” He was reminding us that true joy starts with Him and is sustained by Him. When you draw your joy from Jesus, your joy isn’t fragile. It’s not something that comes and goes with your mood or your news feed. It’s steady because He is steady.
A lot of people try to chase joy by running after fun or comfort or success. But as soon as those things fade, so does the joy they thought they had. Maybe you’ve felt that before. One day you’re on top of the world, and the next you feel like joy is out of reach. That’s the trap of tying your joy to something temporary.
But Jesus never changes. He said in Malachi 3:6, “I, the LORD have not changed.” He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so is the joy He gives. If you want to think clearly and live fully, start here. Choose to rejoice in the Lord. It is not easy, but it is possible. And it is the first step toward a mind that’s grounded in peace.
We are going to begin a new seven-part journey, diving into what it means to develop a healthy thought life. The first step is all about joy. Not random happiness or good vibes, but the kind of joy that comes from choosing to rejoice in the Lord no matter what is happening around you.
The verse shown above is not a suggestion. It is a command. God is not saying, “Rejoice if your day is going well.” He is saying, “Rejoice always.” That means when things are going great, and when they are not. When prayers are answered, and when they feel ignored. Joy is not tied to your circumstances. It is anchored in your Savior.
Jesus said something powerful in John 15:11. He said, “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” He was reminding us that true joy starts with Him and is sustained by Him. When you draw your joy from Jesus, your joy isn’t fragile. It’s not something that comes and goes with your mood or your news feed. It’s steady because He is steady.
A lot of people try to chase joy by running after fun or comfort or success. But as soon as those things fade, so does the joy they thought they had. Maybe you’ve felt that before. One day you’re on top of the world, and the next you feel like joy is out of reach. That’s the trap of tying your joy to something temporary.
But Jesus never changes. He said in Malachi 3:6, “I, the LORD have not changed.” He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, and so is the joy He gives. If you want to think clearly and live fully, start here. Choose to rejoice in the Lord. It is not easy, but it is possible. And it is the first step toward a mind that’s grounded in peace.
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2 Comments
Thank you pastor, so the joy God gives is a choice we make everyday. We chose to abide in God Word and we choose to rejoice in the Lord.
nSo good!
nThank you.
Praise God. He is sovereign and faithful. I need to glorify my savior everyday and all day. He is worthy to be praised. I just want to be a better daughter.