Rejoice in the Lord
“Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
One of the characteristics that SHOULD set us apart from the world is the word: REJOICE! I have often said if Christians really practiced this one action, we could turn the world upside because people would want to know what we are so happy about, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
I read this yesterday in STREAMS IN THE DESERT (Zondervan):
It’s a good thing to “rejoice in the Lord.” Perhaps you have tried it but seem to fail at first. Don’t give it a second thought, and forge ahead. Even when you cannot FEEL any joy, there is no spring in your step, nor any comfort or encouragement in your life, continue to rejoice and “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2).
“Whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2), regard it as joy, delight in it, and God will reward your faith. Do you believe that your heavenly Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and joy to the very front of the battle, only to calmly withdraw to see you captured or beaten back by the enemy? NEVER! His Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance and fill your heart with gladness and praise. You will find that your heart is exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within …
Lord, teach me to rejoice in You – to be “joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Let us sing when we do not feel like it, for in this way we give wings to heavy feet and turn weariness into strength.
Oh, let us rejoice in the Lord, evermore,
“Whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2), regard it as joy, delight in it, and God will reward your faith. Do you believe that your heavenly Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and joy to the very front of the battle, only to calmly withdraw to see you captured or beaten back by the enemy? NEVER! His Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance and fill your heart with gladness and praise. You will find that your heart is exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within …
Lord, teach me to rejoice in You – to be “joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Let us sing when we do not feel like it, for in this way we give wings to heavy feet and turn weariness into strength.
Oh, let us rejoice in the Lord, evermore,
When darts of the Tempter are flying,
For Satan still dreads, as he did before,
Our singing much more than our crying!
Dear brother – what are you facing today in your life? Take God at His Word and REJOICE! -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America’s Keswick
Compass Pointers: He [Christ] tells us plainly, and without any qualifications, that we are involved in a war in which there is no room for neutrals. Yet people attempt to evade His statement. Generally speaking, these are the very people who are the quickest in laying the blame upon God for all the sorrow and sin in the world. They argue that He could prevent it. They excuse their own do nothing attitude by making of evil's apparent predominance a ground for doubt of His loving kindness. It never seems to occur to them to look for the cause in mankind. Hugh Redwood
Navigation Rules to Memorize: Level 1: Proverbs 7:1-2; Level 2: Proverbs 7:1-6
Anchored to the Rock: Neglect prayer. Neglect God. O. Hallesby
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