Joy is a choice. No one else is responsible for my\njoy. Praise and rejoicing are joy\u2019s constant companions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s pretend I\u2019m an attorney arguing a case in\ncourt, and you are the jury. As the gavel sounds calling the court to order, I\nstep forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the jury, thank you for participating in\nthis landmark case. Here\u2019s the issue before us: joy is a choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I present my case, I will use the words joy,\npraise, and rejoicing interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find my evidence credible and convincing as\nI read from a respected document, the Holy Bible, the infallible Word of God. The\ntestimonies you will hear are recorded within these pages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll begin with David, giant slayer and King of\nIsrael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy\nsoul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation\u201d (Psalm 35:9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy\nmouth shall praise thee with joyful lips\u201d (Psalm 63:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\nall those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy,\nbecause thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee\u201d\n(Psalm 5:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\nwill praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy\nmarvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy\nname, O thou most High\u201d (Psalm 9:1-2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy\nheart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise\u201d (Psalm\n57:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From these declarations I conclude joy, praise, and rejoicing are decisions.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\ntestimony of Isaiah, prophet of God, supports this conclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\nwill greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he\nhath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the\nrobe of righteousness\u2026\u201d (Isaiah 61:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next,\nwe\u2019ll hear from James, brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConsider\nit a pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you\nknow that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must\nfinish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything\u201d (James\n1:2 NIV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter,\na disciple of Jesus Christ, adds a powerful comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeloved,\nthink it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though\nsome strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers\nof Christ\u2019s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad\nalso with exceeding joy\u201d (1 Peter 4:12-13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul,\nan apostle of Jesus Christ, speaks with authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\nalso rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces\nperseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not\ndisappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy\nSpirit, whom he has given us\u201d (Romans 5:3-5 NIV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These testimonies confirm joy, praise, and rejoicing are a matter of perspective.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Concerning Habbakuk, prophet of God, I beg the\ncourt\u2019s permission to make an observation here\u2026this is as desolate as it gets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlthough the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stall: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds\u2019 feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places\u2026\u201d (Hab. 3:17-19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n These statements verify that joy, praise, and rejoicing result from confidence in God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I present my closing statement, King David will speak again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThou\nwilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right\nhand there are pleasures for evermore\u201d (Psalm 16:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This corroborates that joy, praise, and rejoicing flow in the Lord\u2019s presence.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To summarize my case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And now my closing statement: members of the jury, joy is a choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My\nrecommendation: choose joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\nrest my case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please comment on how you’ve chosen joy in your difficult journey. And I’d appreciate your sharing this with your friends!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Joy is a choice. No one else is responsible for my joy. Praise and rejoicing are joy\u2019s constant companions. Let\u2019s pretend I\u2019m an attorney arguing a case in court, and you are the jury. As the gavel sounds calling the court to order, I step forward. Members of the jury, thank you for participating in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,322,320,318,323,317,321,319,15,316,315],"class_list":["post-909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-dianne-barker","tag-habbakuk","tag-isaiah","tag-james","tag-joy-is-a-choice","tag-king-david","tag-paul","tag-peter","tag-praise","tag-rejoicing","tag-the-case-for-joy-argued-in-court"],"yoast_head":"\n