Rejoice In The Lord Always

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! -Philippians 4:4

Always find joy in every season. The only way to truly find joy is in the Lord Almighty. I know it is easier said than done especially when we consider all of life's challenges and uncertainties. However, the Apostle Paul encourages us to "Rejoice in the Lord always," even when joy may seem elusive. These simple yet powerful words encapsulate a timeless invitation to discover lasting joy, regardless of our circumstances.

Embracing Joy in the Journey

Life is filled with ups and downs, moments of triumph, and seasons of struggle. It’s easy to associate joy with favorable circumstances—a promotion at work, a cherished relationship, or a personal achievement. However, the joy that Paul speaks of transcends fleeting happiness. It is a deep-seated gladness rooted in our relationship with the Lord.

Rejoice Always

When Paul exhorts us to rejoice always, he isn’t dismissing the hardships or trials we face. Instead, he invites us to view life through the lens of faith—a perspective that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and provision in every situation. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances but on our unchanging God.

Finding Strength in God’s Presence

In moments of uncertainty or difficulty, it’s natural to seek solace in tangible comforts or quick fixes. Yet, true and lasting joy comes from a place of spiritual alignment with God’s will. It’s about trusting His plan, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Rejoicing in Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the gateway to joy. When we cultivate a heart of thankfulness, even amid challenges, we shift our focus from what we lack to the abundance of God’s blessings. Every breath, every moment becomes an opportunity to praise Him.

Living Out Philippians 4:4

As I reflect on Philippians 4:4, I am reminded of its relevance in my own journey. There have been seasons of celebration and times of uncertainty, but through it all, God’s faithfulness remains constant. Rejoicing in Him isn’t just a command—it’s a lifestyle that transforms how we navigate life’s peaks and valleys.

Embracing Joy Today

Today, I choose to embrace the joy that comes from knowing God. I rejoice in His love that never fails, His grace that sustains me, and His peace that surpasses all understanding. In every circumstance, I find comfort and strength in His presence.

As we journey through life, may we heed Paul’s timeless wisdom in Philippians 4:4. Let us rejoice always, not as a fleeting emotion but as a steadfast declaration of faith. In doing so, we discover that true joy isn’t found in perfect circumstances but in a perfect God who walks with us every step of the way.

So, I encourage you today—rejoice in the Lord always. Let His joy be your strength, your comfort, and your guiding light through every season of life.

God bless you.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. -Psalms 66:18

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. -Psalms 66:18

    How do we have God answer our prayers? Well stated in this Psalm, one way is to make sure our hearts are pure, making sure we are not harboring sin in our hearts. 

    The Lord wants us to live a holy life, one where from the inside out our lives are in accordance to His word. Yes, we will make mistakes but it's the getting up, learning from sins and being convicted of those sins that are what's important. Everything about us has to be pure so that when we come to the Lord in prayer, He will hear our cries. 

     The rewards of the righteous and holy are laid out in scripture. Let us strive to bring our lives in accordance with God's word daily.

May God continue to strengthen you in your daily walk with Him. God bless you.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you John 15:4

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. - John 15:4

     To abide means to stay, to remain. Jesus wants us to be dependent on Him, rely on him, trust Him, keep our focus on Him and when we do that He will abide in us. When He abides in us He will guide us, keep us, and make sure we have everything we want and need- just like the vine nourishes the branch so it can bear fruit.

     We cannot bear fruit unless we remain in His word daily. His word joins us to Him and He is able to speak to us through His word therefore growing in Him daily. Just like a fruit, the more nourishment it gets, the more it grows. The more nourishment we get - the more we read the bible and apply it to our lives, the more we grown in Christ and know what He requires of us. 

     Let us abide in the Lord so that He may abide in us. God bless you and may you continue to be stayed in Him.

If this was a blessing to you, share it with someone. Thank you.

You are my God! Psalms 140:6

I said to the LORD: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. - Psalms 140:6

       Sometimes we have to declare to the Lord where we stand with Him truthfully. In this Psalm, the declaration of  "You are my God!" signifies that there is no other god I worship or I have faith in to answer my prayers than the Lord All Mighty! As believers, we know this to be the truth, we know this to be fact and when we walk with God, we in turn have to declare our faith in Him.

      Our Lord is the only one who can give ear to our supplications and answer our prayers.

Meditate on this scripture today and declare to the Lord that He is your God, the one who listens to you when no one else does and the one true God who is able to answer your prayers like no other god can.

Be blessed.

I AM Poem by Helen Mallicoat

I was regretting the past

And fearing the future.

Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

“My name is I Am.” He paused.

I waited. He continued,

When you live in the past

With its mistakes and regrets,

It is hard. I am not there,

My name is not I WAS”.

When you live in the future

With its problems and fears,

It is hard. I am not there.

My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in this moment,

It is not hard. I am here.

My name is I AM.

Be anxious for nothing Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Philippians 4:6

      I get anxious sometimes to the point where I get sick. It interferes with my sleep and it's sometimes the only thing on my mind. Has anyone ever felt that way or experienced anxious symptoms? Let me tell you, it is not a good feeling. I have to find ways to calm myself and one way is reading scriptures that remind me that nothing is worth being anxious about - nothing. But with everything, prayer, supplication and thanksgiving are the mediums by which we can let God know what we want and we have to trust and have faith that He will take care of it. 

     Throughout scripture God reminds us

Forgetting those things which are behind...Phillippians 3:13

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Phillippians 3:13

      Paul states that he does not count himself to have apprehended or grasp fully all the things that Christ asks of him.  However one thing that he knows for certain that he does is forget those things that are behind him and strive for those things that are ahead.

      It's hard to move forward if you are stuck in the past. It's hard to strive for perfection if you continue living in the past where you were not so perfect, which is the story of Paul and so many of us. Paul knew that in order to move forward to do those things that he set out to do after being convicted, he could not keep bringing up the past, he had to forget the past.

      Remembering the past ills, actions etc is not conducive to progress. Forgetting them and having your eyes on what is ahead and striving for those things is what is. 

    May God strengthen you on your journey to forgetting the past and reaching for those things that are ahead. God bless you.