Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. {Philippians 4:4}
One of the best qualities the Lord loves in us is being glad and thankful. He never runs away from anyone that loves to rejoice and is glad, and gives Him thanks and glory. Why? Well, think about it. Would you rather hang out with someone that has a sour face and is complaining all the time, or with someone that is happy and thankful? Of course with someone who is happy and thankful. There’s a saying, “Misery loves company.” If I hang out long enough with a miserable person I will soon join that person in being miserable. Who wants to be miserable? Sure, we want to cheer up a person that is down and out, but when all they do is complain and be sad all the time, after awhile it gets old really fast. The Lord is not much different from us, of course He would rather we rejoice and are thankful always. Imagine the God of heaven and earth, who spoke the world into existence and nothing is too hard for Him, would He be attracted to someone who has no faith? Because thinking negative and thinking life will never get better and walking around with gloom on our faces is having no faith. When we’re thinking of doom and gloom all the time, that’s having no faith. Didn’t the scripture tell us that God is not pleased with those that have no faith? Here’s what Apostle Paul said about it,
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. {Hebrews 11:6}
It is imperative that we rejoice in God always, because rejoicing in Him shows faith. Even when you feel like nothing is going right in your life right now, force yourself to rejoice. By forcing yourself to rejoice and to smile and to be thankful you will attract God to you. He will be drawn to you because you are trying to exercise your faith in Him. Yesterday I visited a loved one who is sick with cancer and she asked me to pray for her because she was feeling really weak and was having a hard time getting out of bed again. She would feel this pain and heaviness in her body. Truth be told, I have my doubts about my faith when it comes to praying for people in person and laying my hands on them to be healed. But I did it anyway. I said to her, “Let’s pray right now”, even though mind you I was quaking inside, I went ahead and prayed for her. As I prayed for her I got bolder and louder with my prayer. I laid my left hand on her body and then later on on her head while my right hand was raised to the heavens. We had a really long nice prayer too, probably lasted for twenty minutes. We rejoiced and thanked the Lord in advance for her healing. Still when it was over and I was on my way home, I doubted. In my mind I wondered if God would really touch her. Well, wouldn’t you know it, she texted me the next morning and thanked me for praying for her because guess what? She said she feels so much better. She has no pain and can get in and out of her bed now. Isn’t that amazing? I exercised my faith and my prayers were answered.
You may have your doubts, you may have your fears, and you may feel completely inadequate about your ability to do the work of the Lord, but do it anyway. My father always told me, “Do it afraid.” I know it’s not fun to be afraid but once you dare yourself to do something and you trust not in yourself, but in the mercies of God and look to Him for help, you can do anything.
So rejoice always, pray always, and thank the Lord always because in our rejoicing the Lord will be pleased with us. He will come and will bless us and honor our prayers!
Rejoice evermore. {1 Thessalonians 5:16}
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. {Psalm 33:1}
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. {Psalm 5:11}
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. {Psalm 9:2}
Prayer
Father, You are the best in all of the earth, and there is no one like You. I love You Lord for You are our God who hears and answers prayers. I thank You Lord Jesus with all of my heart for Your love for us today, for the truth of Your mercy and grace and for never ever leaving us nor forsaking us. I love You, Jesus.
Father I pray that You will bless us today to hope and trust in You always – to rejoice in You always! To stop looking at our circumstances however bleak and hopeless they may be but to look to You, who never changes and who can do anything. Nothing is too hard with You. All things are possible with You. Please Father help us to have faith in You and rejoice in Your goodness – in what You have done for us in times past and in what You are going to do for us for the future. You will never ever fail. You will be faithful to the end. You will hear the cry of the humble and the cry of those who hope and trust in You. I pray and ask for more faith and love for You today Father, in Your most wonderful and precious name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
