I heard someone say once, that if I don’t feel the Lords Joy, then I just don’t want it bad enough. That if I felt like the world was collapsing in on me, then I am not abiding because I don’t want to. That my pride is telling me that my situation is all God’s fault, because after all, He made me this way.

I find these interesting thoughts, that if I don’t abide, it is because I am somehow happier being miserable than being joyous. That I would rather sit in my pity party, than express the Joy that Christ is willing to fill me with if I will but give up my will to Him. Do I really have a choice, can I really turn off the bad mood, or climb out of that depression pit when I feel like no one understands me. Well, I am here to tell you that the answer is a resounding YES! I DO have a choice, and you DO have a choice, if you and I will but listen to the still small voice of God saying “I love you, you are My special creation, and you are fearfully made for My very special purpose. Abide in Me and I will abide in you”, and stop listening to the screaming voice “No one understands me, everyone is an idiot, why do I have to work with these bozos, no one loves me…”. We have a choice, it is in fact the only “work” that God give us exclusively, the work of making a choice. He provides the power, we provide the choice. Do I always make the right choice, no, but you and I can start whenever we want, so lets start today, lets choose to grow just a little bit today. Let us make the right choice today, just once, and see what God does.

Tom Zimmer