“I chose Joy!” – for King and Country
My favourite book of the bible is without a doubt Philippians. I am not sure why it is my favourite, my faithful go to book, but it is. I’ve been pondering this a lot during my current study of the book I wonder if I’m not drawn to the beautiful, overwhelming sense of joy that Paul is giving us. In my ESV bible, the word Joy or Rejoice is mentioned at least 14 times which is quite a few in a book with only 4 chapters and that’s not including other words like praise or even the theme of thanksgiving. But as I was reading through, relishing in the overflowing joy, another strong theme struck me, suffering. As I carefully looked at the themes not just the words and paragraphs, suffering and joy go together, hand in hand.
Joy is a choice, something we press on for. Do you not think that Philippians 4:13 (I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me) could also be read; I can rejoice (I can chose joy) in every circumstance through Christ who strengthens me? In the midst of all the chaos and upheaval we can look to Christ to give us the strength to chose joy no matter what this world throws at us. Even when things look bleak, even if we are overwhelmed, Paul wrote from prison that we can have joy through our suffering because He gives us strength. We don’t have to do the impossible and find it in ourselves (something I believed for a very long time), but rather as we press on to joy, Christ strengthens us to find it.
Praise God for all His provisions!
♡
Musings by Tee 