Philippians 4: 4[KJV]
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice.
Paul was in the confinement of a prison, bound with chains and fetters in Asia Minor, and He wrote to the free believers at Philippi. He had gained an untold dimension of inward peace and tranquility before he made such statement of reality.
Joy in God is of great consequence in the Christian life; and we need to be again and again called to it, for it outweighs all causes for sorrow, sadness and worries of life.
The text above is instructive. A believer has a duty to rejoice in the Lord in season or out of season. The Holy Ghost in you is the source of joy; he lives in you to produce joy and He will cause you to rejoice in the Lord even at the most unusual times.
Joy is one of the predominant features of Paul’s writings, and He modelled to us how to keep calm and collected amidst the afflictions prevailing distresses we are faced with.
Exhibiting and manifesting such holy joy is a chief duty of the believer, in whatever circumstances and ordeal, we must rejoice in afflictions and trials, and keep our joy and innermost calm intact, and when though “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”.
2 Corinthians 6:10 (KJV)
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Divine joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and a supernatural force that God gives us to live by. It causes us remain consistent regardless of any situation. It comes from within the depths of our being and flows outwardly affecting the other parts of our being, which are our soul and body.
When we exercise our faith and yield to the Holy Spirit within us by allowing Holy Ghost joy to flow when we are facing and dealing with the trials, we are sure that victory is certain.
James 1: 2 (KJV)
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials.
There is a positive angle of persecution and trials that God’s Word wants you to see to be able to “count it all joy” in any situation, just as Paul counted it all joy, because the purpose of his imprisonment was for the “furtherance of the gospel”.
Also, whatever we experience in our ordeal of faith is not meant to destroy us, but to bring out the best in us, and at the end also to bring glory to God.
Rejoicing in the Lord is not a suggestion, it is a command! It is one of the duties you must prioritize. Just a we emphasize prayer, bible study, commitment to the local, generosity and many more, we must place a high priority on rejoicing.
Kenneth E. Hagin said, there’s a special blessing God reserves only for joyful people.
Everyone must have a moment in their lives when they can turn their joy from minimum to maximum. I know you have prayed, fasted and you’re expecting a miracle; it is time to count it all joy.
Practice joy now! I’d like you to take a moment right now and rejoice, leap for joy and let it out; shake off that pain, get rid of that sad mood and turn up your joy. Shout and rejoice! Glory to God!
DECLARATION
I rejoice always, it is my default mode. I am unperturbed and undisturbed by any situation. I come out as a winner and champion. I refuse to succumb to any pressure. I choose joy always. I rejoice in the Lord always. Glory to God! (Please spend more time to pray in the Holy Ghost
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Luke 1: 41 – 44; Galatians 5: 22 – 23