Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4
Did you know that over 500 times in the Bible we are commanded to rejoice? The Living Bible says, “Be full of joy.” Every morning I repeat a particular verse in the Psalms to myself. In fact some mornings I say it while looking in the mirror, because I don’t feel joyful. Nevertheless, this verse is forever true and always helpful. Here it is:
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
The truth of that Psalm helps me get my day started on the right track. I have found that if I start my day rejoicing in the Lord, my day will be full of joy. A great preacher once said, “The surest mark of a Christian is not faith or even love but joy.” Did you know that Jesus came to give you joy, a deep, overflowing joy that only comes from God? Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
God’s kind of joy is not a giddy, superficial good feeling. Rather, His joy runs deep. Even during the tough times it prevails in your soul.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Why do you think the writer of Philippians repeats himself in verse 4:4?
2. Have you ever felt peace or hope in the midst of trials? If you have, then you have experienced joy. What do you think is the connection between rejoicing in the Lord and being filled with joy?
FURTHER READING:
Romans 12:12; Philippians 3:1