Doctors practice medicine, attorneys practice law, and Christians should always practice joy.

We’ve been through a rough week, a week of violence in our nation.  Unfortunately these types of weeks are becoming too common.

We have a choice, we can focus on all that is negative.  We can listen to the news reports and live as if the sky is falling or we can find peace and joy in God’s word and focus on Him and all that is good.

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

We can’t focus on what is good by filling our heads with negative thoughts and listening and reading negativity.  Instead we must put our focus on what is good and what is pure.

Philipians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think on these things.”

While we live in a world full of tragic events and negativity, we still can find something that is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. If we strive to keep our focus on these things, then we will be practicing joy.

So go out and practice joy this weekend and hopefully it will spill into your next week and even be contagious to those around you!