Submitted by David Miller
Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
More
often than not, we have great difficulty getting out of bed each morning with a
spirit of rejoicing over the new day. Problems confront us. Unpaid bills pile
up. Conflicts in relationships. A right spirit and good intentions can easily
deflate when circumstances that remind us of hurts, pain and disappointment
arise and dominate our thoughts.
What
is the solution?
For
the Apostle Paul, he maintained a right spirit by keeping an eternal
perspective on life and relied not on his own strength, but the strength of the
Holy Spirit freely given by God. As a result, Paul freely rejoices.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
This
verse serves as the overall theme of the book of Philippians – to rejoice no
matter what.
All
believers have the opportunity and the choice to take full advantage of God’s
power through His Word. Through God’s means of grace our hearts are filled with
the right spirit. With the Holy Spirit,
we are able to rejoice at all times. Not
just some of the time, or most of the time, but ALL THE TIME. This also
includes difficult circumstances.
The
Bible says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised
at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were
happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,
so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)
Because
of suffering, we will be even more joyful when God’s glory is finally revealed.
You have to admit this sounds pretty unreasonable, perhaps even impossible.
Yet, when we consider the author, Paul, and the fact that he is in prison and
has suffered for the cause of Christ, we can take notice of what he is trying
to say.
The
circumstances of life should not infect a believer’s heart. The spirit of
Christ is our shield, our fortress, and our guard.
Our
forgetful minds tend to focus more readily on present circumstances and their challenges
rather than the solution that has already been determined. As a result, we need
to be in God’s Word to daily remind us of God’s promises. Knowing that our sins
are forgiven, that God has our good in mind, and that our inheritance in heaven
is secure allows us to rejoice always. By
taking advantage daily of filling our spiritual tanks with God’s grace, we can
always rejoice.
Scripture to
Claim:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
