Choose Joy

"Be joyful always, pray continually"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Be joyful always.  Pray continually.

These were the verses I decided to carry into my summer as a camp counselor.  I knew that if I applied them to my life, I would be an effective counselor.  So, all summer I chose joy and prayed continually.  Because of this, I was more joyful than I have ever been in my life.  I chose joy.  Choosing joy is simple acts that translate into bigger ones.  For instance, I chose joy by choosing to wear a tutu and dance on a table during girl time.  I chose joy by racing my campers to the next destination.  I chose joy by playing a prank on the cabin next to ours.  Little instances of me choosing joy led to the bigger picture of me being joyful always.

I carried these verses into the fall but somewhere along the way, they got lost.  I was still choosing joy and I was still praying continually, but I forgot something important.  I forgot that there was another verse tacked on to the ones above. "and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (vs. 18)  Towards the end of my internship this fall, I let my circumstances get in the way.  I was trying to choose joy and I was still praying, but something was missing.  My expectation was that I would have a job and place to live immediately after my internship ended.  This did not happen.  I became stressed.  I became anxious about my next step.  Then these verses, once again, came to mind.  Be joyful always.  Pray continually.  Give thanks in all circumstances.  I realized that I was not giving thanks in all circumstances.  I had forgotten about the verse tacked on the end.  

Today, I choose joy.  Like I said earlier, choosing joy is simple acts that will eventually translate into an overall picture of joy in your life.  I chose joy by driving to the store to buy a basketball so that I could shoot around after my run.  I chose joy by listening to the Katy Perry pandora station because inside everyone, there is a Katy Perry fan.  Do not deny it.  I choose joy.  Despite the fact that my circumstance is not the one that I would have chosen, I will choose joy.  I will pray continually.  I will give thanks in ALL circumstances.  How will you choose joy today?

Kelsey J.