THE CHOICE TO REJOICE

Yet I WILL REJOICE in the LORD, I WILL JOY in the God of my salvation – Habakkuk 3:18

REJOICING is a CHOICE. You cannot create happiness at will; but you can choose to rejoice or not to. All of God’s people, without exception, are instructed to rejoice: “And you shall REJOICE BEFORE the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your menservants and your maidservants…” (Deut. 12:12). JOY is a conscious CHOICE, not an automatic response to circumstances. However, the Presence of God is an incentive to true joy. We rejoice BEFORE HIM.

There is an error in some religious circles that singing, dancing, clapping or celebrating in God’s presence is carnal and worldly; but Joy in the heart must be expressed outwardly. David gave himself no option than to rejoice. He chose to “bless the Lord AT ALL TIMES…CONTINUALLY…”! (Psa.34:1). Again he said: “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God MY EXCEEDING JOY: yea, upon the HARP will I praise thee, O God my God” (Ps. 43:4). He was resolute in rejoicing: “Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early” (Psa. 108:2).

True Joy is independent of circumstances. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says: “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: YET I WILL REJOICE in the LORD, I WILL JOY in the God of my salvation.” Isaiah 61:10a says, “I will greatly REJOICE in the LORD, my soul shall be JOYFUL in my God…” (Isa.61:10).

In the face of persecution, the apostles rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).  Paul wrote from prison: “REJOICE in the Lord always. Again I say, REJOICE” (Phil. 4:4). Peter also: “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1Pet.5:7). James counselled: “My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various trials” (Jam.1:2). Irrespective of my circumstances, I choose to “rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab.3:18). What about you?