Choose Joy! (Rejoice in the Lord-Day 5)
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, let us do as Paul said in Colossians 3:2, NIV, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Help me to take my focus off “self” and set my mind on you.
“ Be joyful always; pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
REFLECT:
A few months ago, I heard a story on a podcast of an Australian Evangelist named Nick Vujicic, born with no arms and no legs. The mere fact that a man like this was an “evangelist” to me was an amazing testimony of God’s faithfulness. This particular podcast was one aired on the weekly Promise Keepers site, which, for those of you who may not be aware, is in an organization of men leading men to Christ to awaken them to faith and service to God. Nick is a tremendous speaker, who has won many souls for Christ. He has prayed for scores of individuals who have experienced miracles from the Lord, as well. What is most telling about Nick, is his testimony. He went through different periods in his life of being close to God, then moving away from God, but in the end, he knew, God was calling “him” to evangelism, and he could not run away from it.
In spite of having no arms, no legs and all the reasons in the world’s eyes to be mad at God, Nick loves his Heavenly Father and can think of nothing other than lifting up praise to God for all he has done in his life. His story continues, as he met a woman who would become his wife and he got married. On his wedding day, his dad told Nick that he never would have believed that he would be married because of the physical situation he was in. God further confounded believers and non-believers alike, as Nick’s wife has given birth to four beautiful children! But, Nick’s focus has not been on what he does not have…it’s always been on what he “does” have – the gifts God “has” given him. He has always “chosen” joy!
APPLY:
Do you feel that God has forsaken you or that you have been unfairly treated by God in some way in what you ‘have’ or ‘don’t have’ in this life? Are there hardships you are struggling with that have made you mad at God or led you to become cold to him? Take another look at what you ‘do’ have. Make a list of all the blessings in your life and begin to consciously thank God for each one of them. Don’t focus on what you do not have – but focus on what you do have. With those talents, God can do amazing things in your life and in the lives of numerous others through you!
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, when we don’t know how to move ahead in life, let us turn it over to you, saying, “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight, do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and shun evil,” (Proverbs 2:5-7, NIV). Amen.
CONTINUED READING:
Philippians 4:4, Psalm 32:11