I Choose JOY

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Psalm 5:11

You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 19:8

Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.
The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Psalm 26:6-8

Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Psalm 33:1

I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.
Psalm 71:22-23

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
Psalm 95:1-3

True JOY comes straight from the heart of God. It is a gift that He gives us- the ability to be joyful always. I've had the song "Holy is the Lord" by Chris Tomlin in my heart today and have just been reminded that the Lord is truly my joy and delight.

Tricia McCary Rhodes says, "God did not make man for duty or drudgery or even ordinariness. He created Him for joy. Joy is our jubilant response to the presence of the living God who has made His home within our souls."

Is that not beautiful?? I long for my life to be an expression of joy, a response to the presence of the living God within me. I long to delight in my Savior, for Him to be the only one that brings me joy and contentment regardless of how life is going and what bumps are in the road ahead.

Father, you are the Giver of life, and the Creator of JOY. You are a Holy God, a faithful Provider, an outpouring of more mercy and love than I can comprehend. Please help me to respond with joy each and every day. Help me to delight in You alone, Jesus.