The Choice is Yours

I am in awe of how God works.  Yesterday was a tough day for me.  I had set aside time to work on writing and I didn't feel very inspired.  I spent some time looking through a folder I have with ideas for future writings.  I found a completed blog I had never posted.  The amazing thing was the content of it addressed just what I was feeling that very moment.  God used my own words to minister to my heart.  I hope He will do that for one of you!

Written in 2021
As I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across a picture that was posted by a friend from high school.  It took me
to my knees and opened my eyes to what emotions I was choosing to live in each day. You see, discouragement had set
into my heart.  Discouraged about choices my family members were making.  I didn’t understand what they were doing. 
I was frustrated and angry with how it was affecting my life. I was choosing to dwell on the discouragement. 
That discouragement led to insecurities filling my head.  I didn’t understand why things I thought God wanted me to do
were on hold.  Why was He not opening doors to make things happen? These insecurities were filling me with the feeling that
I should just give up.  I was choosing to sit in my uncertainties.  

My discouragement and insecurities were bringing me down. I felt stuck and didn’t know what to do.  So I went to Facebook and started scrolling.  That is when I saw this quote from Amber Housley.  


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I sat and read it over and over again.  I had a choice to make.  Was I going to sit in my discouragement or was I going
to change my choices? I wanted to feel blessed.  I wanted to feel grateful.  I wanted to be happy.  I couldn’t be any of these things if I was focusing on the negative things in my life.  

So today, I am going to choose JOY!  

Nehemiah 8:10b says “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

When I choose to look at the blessings, I will feel grateful. When I choose to be excited to see what God is going to do next,
 will be thankful.  When I choose to be happy I will choose the joy of the Lord over the discouragement in my heart.
I am choosing to walk in His strength to fight the battles of my feelings.  

I hope that you will join me in Choosing Joy!

Dear Lord, 
​There are days that I don’t feel joyful.  Days that I struggle with insecurities, doubt, frustration, and discouragement. 
I don’t want to allow these feelings to rule my day.  So today I choose to feel blessed in the midst of my discouragement.
I choose to feel grateful in the midst of my insecurities.  I choose to feel thankful in the midst of my doubts.  I choose to
e happy in the midst of my frustration.  I choose Your joy and thank You for the strength it gives me.  Amen