Rejoice In The Lord Always
Rejoice in the Lord always is not an option but a command. It is the law of spiritual attraction because it attracts the presence of God. We must be joyful always.
Be joyful always, 17 pray at all times, 18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12
Most of us actually think we have a choice but we do not. Jesus died for us and our names are written in heaven. We also have the Spirit as our comforter, helper and guide therefore we must always rejoice, thank God and celebrate Christ even against all odds.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:19
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. – Luke 10:20
Not making an effort to rejoice in the Lord always is a negative mental attitude that will always lead to defeat. The Lord is training us to become champions not grumblers. Grumbling is offensive to the Lord and repels His manifest presence. Grumbling will not attract the atmosphere for miracles rather, it will invite oppressive presence and emotions.
Jesus Himself was not a grumbler. He was a very happy fulfilled man, not because He did not have challenges but because He focused on the right things. His thoughts were healthy and positive. He never gave in to fear, sadness and discouragement.
We must celebrate Christ our Passover always and focus on His deliverance on the cross and His great power. Thankfulness and rejoicing will always lead to peace.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. – Colossians 3:15
Most people have heard of peace as a fruit of the Holy Spirit but many people do not know how to have peace or how peace works. It is only by thinking the thoughts of the Holy Spirit which includes the written word of God that we can have peace. Jesus is the sower and He sows His seeds or thoughts in our hearts. We must accept those thoughts and meditate on them so that they can digest and sink deep into the inner man or spirit. It is only when the spirit is filled with light and healthy thoughts that peace will emerge. We are the ones who will reprogram our inner man with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. – Colossians 3:16
Without unshakable confidence in the word of God, peace will only be a name and a terminology. The practical aspect of peace will be a mirage.
Now this is peace – Paul and Silas got up at midnight in prison and praised God. Peace is what makes us resolute in our faith and enables us to experience calm in the midst of the storms of life. Note that Paul and Silas did not fret, complain or grumble. They also did not consider their environment or circumstance. Their eyes were fixed on Christ our Deliverer.
We must fix our gaze upon Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and cast all our cares upon Him, as we praise Him and celebrate Him with thanksgiving. The more we rest in Him and His word, the more we will find reasons to rejoice in Him always.
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