Philippians 4:4

The first thing to notice in 4:4 is that this is a command. We are literally commanded to “rejoice in the Lord always!” That must mean that this rejoicing in not merely a feeling to be felt but it is a moment by moment choice that we must make. Yes friend, no matter what is going on in your life, including trials and suffering and loss, we can choose to rejoice in the Lord. This does not mean we are rejoicing for the trial or suffering. But we are choosing to rejoice that God has saved us and that God is working in the midst of our difficulty to deepen us and transform us to be more like Jesus in the way we live and love. And we rejoice that He is walking with us through our painful path, giving us His strength and peace and eternal perspective. And we rejoice always because we know that this current difficulty will not have the last word. In the end, Jesus wins! And we win with Him!

PASSAGE: Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

PAUSE: What a powerful verse to memorize and to meditate upon this week. Rejoicing is never in our circumstances; rejoicing is always in the Lord. When our thoughts are focused on our problems, we always lose the battle for the mind, but when our thoughts are focused on the Lord, we always rejoice. 

PRAYER: Christ Jesus, I rejoice in you today. Help me to find my joy in you and you alone. Forgive me for taking my eyes off you and focusing on my problems.