Advent 2022 - Day 13

Friday, December 9thThe Choice of Joy By Stephen Kidwell / Season of life: 36, Professional Nerd   ScriptureMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~ Romans 15:13   Last year, I went through one of the most trying times in my life. It wasunexpected and life altering. I contracted a bacterial infection that ultimately led tothe partial amputation of my left arm, the removal of three bones in my right wrist and a nearly 6-month hospital stay. My life was changed in what seemed like aninstant, and I am still recovering from the effects of my hospital stay.   People face challenges every day, things that will be difficult, painful, and evendevastating. The one thing that all of these have in common is that they arecircumstantial. Circumstances change, from good to bad and from bad to good.When our circumstances change, we have a choice. We can choose to live in ourcircumstances and allow them to take us on a rollercoaster of emotions, or we canchoose joy that comes from God and is not affected by our circumstances.    In Romans 12:12, we are called to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”. These are not things that will just happen; rather, we must make the conscious choice every day.   When I was asked to write for this advent devotional, I began to reflect onwhat “The Sounding Joy” meant; and, for me, it came down to making that choice to live in God’s joy. His joy allows you to live a life built on something stable, and it is a beacon of hope in a chaotic world.      So, when you choose joy, you are reflecting God’s hope that abounds through the Holy Spirit, to a world that is desperately searching for hope.   Closing PrayerLord, I pray that you would fill me with your joy and fill me with your hope. Give me the strength and courage to choose joy, even in the face of difficult circumstances.   _________________________________________________   ReflectionsIn what circumstances have you found it most difficult to choose joy?__________________________________________________________________________________________________   Romans 12:12 calls us to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”.  Of these three phrases, which one is most needed in this season of your life?__________________________________________________________________________________________________   Take a moment and ask the Lord to help you with the particular phrase you chose.  What is one way you can remind yourself of this phrase as you go through your day?__________________________________________________________________________________________________    Lord God, may I “repeat the sounding joy” of who You are today!