CHOOSE JOY NOT PLEASURE

CHOOSE JOY NOT PLEASURE

Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19
Memory verse:
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

According to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report, Nigeria ranked 95th happiest nation among 137 nations in the world. It could be reversed to mean the 42nd saddest nation!
There are so many things in the world today that can take away our happiness. No wonder, the alarming rate of suicide and mental breakdown. The stress in the world has also negatively impacted our health and life expectancy. For example, Nigeria life expectancy has been ranked 190 out of 193 nations by the UN population division. The average life expectation of a Nigerian today is 55.75 years, which is also the 4th lowest among the 193 nations.
The world won’t ever be better but God has provided for His people to have joy in the midst of it. In Psalm 46, David described the river that brings joy in the midst of the shaking of the earth and the swelling of the sea.
“A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.” (Psa‬ ‭46‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT)‬‬.
Contrary to what some think, the UN Peace Initiative is not an answer to the upside down world. It takes faith for the just to be joyous in this world. Even though the world is restless, yet there is a rest, peace and joy for the people of God (Psa 46:1-5; Heb 4:10; Matt 11:28-29).
Happiness is an emotion which responds to the circumstances around. So depending on the circumstances, happiness can either increase or decrease. Pleasure brings happiness. However, joy is deeply rooted in God. It is knowing Jesus. Joy is not a pleasure but a presence. According to our text, it is constant in every situation, in plenty and in lack and in comfort and in pain. It is the character of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22).
Friends, building your life on pleasure and the things around may cause you disappointment and invariably put your health at risk. However, when your life is hinged on God and His word, you will have rivers of joy gushing into your heart in every situation.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, let me be rooted in You and Your word so I may have joy and peace in the midst of the troubles of life in Jesus name.
2. Father, please, let Your rivers of joy constantly flow into my heart in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. Joy is a presence and not a pleasure.
2. I am far from depression because my joy is not dependent on the circumstances around me but it is rooted in God and His word.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng