“This is the day that the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.” {Psalm 118:24}
Being joyful is a state of mind we must have with the Lord. We have to come to terms with Him regarding this. We have to be in agreement with Him that no matter what happens, we are going to rejoice in Him and be glad.
I’m not saying it’s easy at all. As a matter of fact, so many times all I want to do is throw in the towel every time life gets a little miserable to deal with. Well, fact is life isn’t easy. It takes a little effort to live, and if you want to be successful in life you’re going to have to work hard for it. Not to mention we live in a sad fallen world, where Satan and his cohorts have been given the power to tempt mankind and challenge us everyday in our walk with God. No indeed, living for God is not a walk in the park, and being joyful is not either.
“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” {Matthew 5:12}
Being joyful is a decision we have to make with God. It’s not going to be based on feelings or on our circumstances. It’s the same decision that we make when we want to follow God and do what is pleasing before Him. Whether the road before us is easy or not, we know when we’ve made the decision to follow Christ we’ve made up our minds to follow Him and obey His word. Likewise with being joyful and being thankful, we have to make up our minds to be joyful in the Lord anyway even if life is not easy.
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” {Philippians 4:4}
But we have an edge and we have an advantage to be joyful, because we know that God wins in the end. No matter how bad it might look like right now, we know God wins and if God wins and He is for us we will win too. Since we will overcome in the end and God is the God of all principalities and powers, what’s there not to be joyful about? Even if that’s all our reason for being joyful that is all we need.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” {Romans 8:37}
But how to win and be joyful everyday, especially when there’s a lot of things to complain about? The key is in always talking to the Lord about everything and letting Him know how we feel about our situation. Whenever we get the Lord involved in our circumstances, we will not be alone in our burdens anymore. We have Him who will help us carry them and will comfort us in the process. Plus, when we learn to thank the Lord in the midst of our trials and tribulations and we are magnifying Him and praising Him, we make Him greater than our problems. Our problems will become surmountable and will be less threatening. God’s presence will come into our midst and will defuse all the difficulties that we’re facing. He can turn a situation around that we think is so impossible and will work it out for our good. Like with Moses with the children of Israel before the Red Sea, God can part the waters for us overnight if we learn to trust and wait for His salvation.
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” {Habakkuk 3:18}
As I have mentioned before, we live in a fallen world where Satan and his cohorts run free. When we belong to the Lord and are doing God’s work, Satan is going to try to get in our way from accomplishing it. So don’t be surprised if troubles and problems seem to pop up out of nowhere just to make you unhappy. If it looks like the enemy is at it again, all we have to do is ask the Lord to save us and help us and rebuke the enemy out. The last thing we want to do is put the blame on God or start whining and complaining, because not only is that not going to solve our problems away, we’re helping Satan become happy. The last thing we want is to make Satan happy. Instead, ask the Lord to intervene and keep Satan away from bothering you and praise the Lord. Yes, praise the Lord. By praising Jesus and loving Him and thanking Him you will bring joy in and His presence in. When God is being praised and being loved by us, He will come and love us back in return and will save us. He will turn our circumstances around and will help us become happy again.
“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.” {Psalm 68:1}
That is the key to being joyful, connecting with Jesus Christ. Everyday, every moment and every chance we can get believing in His love for us. He is the King of all nations and the Great Power over all powers and principalities of this world. There is nothing that is out of His power or out of His reach, and there is nothing too hard with Him. All we need to do is ask for His help, and let Him know what it is we want for Him to do. If we learn to talk to Him all the time and not wait until we’re in trouble, then when circumstances arise that are not to our liking we can call on Him and He will come and save us. That is our secret to being joyful: talking to Jesus Christ all the time and having faith in Him that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly what we ask or even think. Don’t let this world and the prince of the darkness of this world steal your joy from you. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” {Ephesians 3:20}
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” {Romans 1:17}
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” {Romans 5:3}
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” {Jeremiah 32:27}
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” {Nehemiah 8:10}
“My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” {Psalm 104:34}
