Strong spirits: are you choosing joy?

What is one indispensable thing you must have to have a strong spirit and to be able to accomplish all you desire to do?  You might be surprised...

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete."  Jesus to his followers (John 15:11)
"Now you are sad, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you."  Jesus again (John 16:22)
"And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have  my joy in their hearts in all its fullness."  Jesus one more time (John 17:13)

Why would Jesus make such an emphasis on joy just before his death?  Because he knew his disciples would be devastated, and would need to be infused with joy.  Why?  Because "... the joy of the Lord is our strength!"  (Nehemiah 8:10)
Paul knew this, too. "Rejoice in the Lord always! (Phillipians 4:4) "Be joyful always!"  (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

God wants to fill us with his joy!  For that to happen, we have to choose to be joyful, and we need to receive the joy he offers us.

Are you choosing joy?

Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.