James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds….
My students will tell you that I say the phrase “Life is all about choices,” sometimes with startling regularity. I usually follow that up with some variation of “but choices have consequences, so choose wisely.” For me personally, the reminder, posted everywhere in my classroom, is “Choose Joy.”
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Charles Swindoll said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” My attitude is my choice. Life is often not smooth—sometimes it’s little things and sometimes it’s life-altering things that do not go the way we hope or plan. But God is always at work, and He can use all things if we let Him, He can draw us closer to Him through the darkest, most painful circumstances, and while the darkness and pain isn’t something to celebrate, drawing closer to Him absolutely is.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances….
Lord, Thank You for this day and the reminder to choose joy in our circumstances. Thank You for Your ability to draw us closer, shape and mold us, through all circumstances. Help me remember that I am always in charge of my attitude. Help me to choose joy. Draw me closer to You. Amen.
Romans 5:3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.