Choose Joy~

Praise God we have choices! We can choose to be joyful! We can choose to forgive, we can choose to forget. We can choose what we watch or listen to on TV or internet. We can choose to listen to the world and its craziness or we can choose to listen to and put our eyes on God’s Word and what He says and thinks about us! It’s a choice. What will you choose today? Be intentionally joyful!

I choose joy, love, peace-sound familiar? Sounds like the fruits of the Holy Spirit! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control. (Galatians 5:22). We choose to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh and the Holy Spirit produces these fruits within us including JOY!

We can also choose what we say about ourselves. We choose either positive or negative self-talk. If we choose negative self talk we think and say these thoughts in the left column. But we can choose to instead think or say these things about ourselves in the right column:

Negative Cognitions / Positive Cognitions
I don’t matter / I do matter
I’m not good enough / I'm good enough
I should have known better / I could not have known
I’m damaged / I'm good enough
I’m stupid / I'm smart enough
I’m unlovable / I'm lovable
I’m to blame / I didn't do anything wrong
It’s not ok to show my emotions / It's ok to show my emotions
I’m helpless / I have choices
I’m weak / I am strong
I have to be perfect / I can be myself

Healthy Scriptures to feed our joy~

As we choose to think and say these positive, uplifting promises from God be reminded they all belong to you! Jesus is the Word and the Word is for us and Jesus is for us! Cast all your cares on the Lord for He cares for you! 1 Peter 5:7

Psalm 34:17-18 -When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 41:10 -Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Peter 5:7 -Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 11:28 -Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Jeremiah 29:11 -For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6 -Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 30:5 -For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Philippians 4:6-7 -Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23:4 -Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Proverbs 12:25 -Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Psalm 9:9 -The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:18 -The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Romans 12:2 -Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Timothy 1:7 -For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Revelation 21:4 -He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

John 10:10 -The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Deuteronomy 31:8 -It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Isaiah 40:31- But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 3:3 -But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Isaiah 26:3 -You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Psalm 30:11 -You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness

Philippians 4:8 -Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Matthew 6:33 -But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 40:1-3 -To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

John 16:33 -I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 15:13 -May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Matthew 11:28-30 -Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Psalm 23:1-6 -A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

Philippians 4:4 -Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Be joyful again! Re joice)

Joshua 1:9 -Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 42:11 -Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 103:1-5 -Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 40:2 -He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Romans 8:28 -And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Peter 5:6-7 -Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may life you up, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 37:23-24 -The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 -For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

2 Corinthians 1:4-6 -Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

Psalm 32:10 -Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

Psalm 34:18-19 -The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 112:4 -Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Psalm 42:5 -Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

1 Peter 4:12-13 -Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Lamentations 3:22-26 -The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Isaiah 60:1 -Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

Psalm 147:3 -He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.