rejoice

Opening Prayer: Every day is a gift from you, O Lord, help me to treat it as such.  Help me to receive it and to live it with joy and gratitude, regardless of its contents.

Read: Philippians 4:4-5

Reflect: Joy is a choice; it is deeper than happiness and can endure sorrow.  Each day, regardless of its contents, we can choose to live as if life were a gift or a burden.  But that gift must be recognized and received in order to be experienced, valued, and appreciated.  We can either savor each day or endure each day, depending on how we look at it.  We can either count our blessings, or we can recite our woes.  The choice is ours.

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”  Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote these words.  He didn’t allow his circumstances to determine his mindset and attitude.  Instead, he chose joy.  He had an attitude of gratitude.  We can live with that determination as well.  Choose joy today.

Journal: What have you got to be grateful for?  Write it all down.  Reflect on it.  Savor it.  Thank God for it.  Allow it to help you to choose joy rather than anger, bitterness, or indifference.

Pray: Tell God what you are grateful for.  Hold them near to your heart and allow them to permeate your mind and soul.

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to live a life of deep gratitude for who you are, who I am to you, and all you have blessed me with.  Help me choose joy today.