Rejoice Always?

REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again: REJOICE!” —Philippians 4:4 NIV

THE APOSTLE PAUL WHO WAS A “JESUS-FREAK” AND A “NOIZE-MAKA”…was imprisoned, incarcerated, locked-up, chained and shackled when he wrote the letter of Philippians to Phillippi. Yet in the middle of this difficult situation and circumstance he used the words “joy” or “rejoice” some sixteen times. Say what?

To rejoice is an attitude that makes a conscious choice, that no matter the attacks the enemy deploys, I will make a joyful noise with my heart, mind, soul, strength and voice; that once and for all—all sadness, gloom and despair it completely destroys.

This guy was a prisoner who was most-likely beaten and probably mistreated. Maybe he was in solitary confinement with little food and water. Maybe he had no medical attention for his wounds or relief from his pains. Because he was chained in a dungeon, the odds are that he was left to sit and sleep in his own human-waste.

Yet through all this tragic drama unfolding right before his eyes, Paul still managed to get-out of his system the words “joy” or “rejoice” some sixteen times. I don’t know what you’re going through, but if Paul in his bleak situation was able to encourage us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”—then we have absolutely no excuse to pout or wallow in a puddle of self-pity.

Pity-Party is NOW SHUT-DOW and OFFICIALLY OVER…it’s time to REJOICE AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN!!! “REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again: REJOICE!” —Philippians 4:4 NIV