A joyful countenance has nothing to do with one's age or education or even one's good looks or circumstances. Joy is a choice!
Joy is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God - that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen. - Charles Swindoll
Every choice we make creates a ripple effect on our lives as well as on the lives of others. The choices we have made throughout life determine where we are and what we are becoming. Paul captured the same idea in the universal law of sowing and reaping. He said, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Galatians 6:7. Our choices often have a reach and impact that we could never imagine. Thus the apostle's words remind us to choose wisely - choices that emanate from a heart fully committed to Jesus. He stated that :- "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ," Phillippians 1:9-10
When choosing between options one must make judgments about the quality of each option's attributes.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Joy is deep and consistent - the oil that reduces the friction of life.
Regardless of how severely the winds of adversity may blow, we set our sails toward joy - Charles Swindoll
