Choose

Choices. No day goes by when we are not allowed to make a choice. This month in the K-5 ministry, we discussed the power of choice concerning being joyful. We describe the meaning of joy in this way – “Choosing to celebrate what God is doing.” Joy is a choice, an attitude – a decision to trust God no matter the circumstances or what kind of day you have. God gave His people a plan, a rhythm for them to live and celebrate His goodness, a festal calendar consisting of 3 pilgrimage festivals – Passover, Pentecost, and Booths (Deuteronomy 16:1-15). Each of these gatherings intentionally brought the Jewish nation together (of all ages) to celebrate and remember His grace and goodness to them. During the festival of Booths (Tabernacles), God instructed, “For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and all the work of your hands so that you will be altogether joyful” (Deuteronomy 16:15, ESV). For the Jewish people, this festival was to be a celebration done in community and by choice – obedience to the Lord (Deuteronomy 16:13-17).

As Christ-followers, we celebrate and can choose to have joy because of our salvation through Jesus (1 Peter 1:8-9). We can start by making this a habit in our lives, building this intentionality in our homes and church communities—take the time and remember the joy we have in Christ.

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