Rejoice When?
Many people lack joy, and they have a hard time rejoicing because of that. Those people have a huge problem. God has commanded us to, "Rejoice always." (I Thessalonians 5:16) Is that really possible? I think it is. God never commands us to do something that He doesn't give us the power to do. It is really much easier than we might think.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.(Galatians 5:22,23) It can't be worked up, and it is not dependent on good things happening to us. Therefore, we can rejoice always, if we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit all the time, and we are allowing that fruit to overflow from our hearts.
Fruit is not produced by our effort. It is a result of abiding in the Lord, in His Word, and in the power of His Spirit. In essence we must stop trying to generate happiness by what we do, and we must allow the Spirit to give us joy by becoming yielded to Him. Once He gives us joy, we can't help but rejoice, no matter what happens. We have the Lord. We have eternity in heaven with Him. He is with us now for whatever happens to us and others around us. Why would we not be able to rejoice?
If you are grumpy and negative, and if you are a complainer and a drama king or queen, stop and confess that as sin. Tell the Lord that you know you are violating His command. Then, submit yourself to the Lord and ask the Spirit to fill you. Start obeying the Spirit, reading the Word, and praying. You will notice the fruit of joy rising from within you. Then, let it out. Soon, you will be rejoicing always. That is God's way for every believer to live every day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Thessalonians 2-3 and I Timothy 1.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.(Galatians 5:22,23) It can't be worked up, and it is not dependent on good things happening to us. Therefore, we can rejoice always, if we are bearing the fruit of the Spirit all the time, and we are allowing that fruit to overflow from our hearts.
Fruit is not produced by our effort. It is a result of abiding in the Lord, in His Word, and in the power of His Spirit. In essence we must stop trying to generate happiness by what we do, and we must allow the Spirit to give us joy by becoming yielded to Him. Once He gives us joy, we can't help but rejoice, no matter what happens. We have the Lord. We have eternity in heaven with Him. He is with us now for whatever happens to us and others around us. Why would we not be able to rejoice?
If you are grumpy and negative, and if you are a complainer and a drama king or queen, stop and confess that as sin. Tell the Lord that you know you are violating His command. Then, submit yourself to the Lord and ask the Spirit to fill you. Start obeying the Spirit, reading the Word, and praying. You will notice the fruit of joy rising from within you. Then, let it out. Soon, you will be rejoicing always. That is God's way for every believer to live every day.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Thessalonians 2-3 and I Timothy 1.