{Be Devoted} Choosing Joy

As we are starting to wrap up the year of 2013, I want to focus on one of the biggest lessons God has been teaching me throughout this entire year. I have been learning how to find joy in the hardest of times. I have literally stopped a lot of “things” just so that I could devote my time to understanding how to react in a joy-like manner. I’ve had to work in my weak areas where I knew I needed to develop an attitude of joy. Being joyful in itself, is an easy thing to do, but putting joy into practice, in the hard times, is quite a different story. It’s not laughing and smiling when something bad happens…no it’s quite opposite. It’s a personal decision to have a changed heart and attitude and a completely different focus. Joy changes our attitude to praise God and offer to Him thanksgiving. Joy challenges us stand firm in His truths, no matter how hard life may become. We have the opportunity to glorify God and to enjoy Him. Will you choose joy?