While a prisoner in Rome, Paul wrote the Philippians a letter that sounds like a shout of victory. Its theme is joy and rejoicing in the Lord.
Paul knew the secret of victory over anxiety and depression. After telling the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always, he advised them not to worry about anything, but to bring everything in prayer to the Lord with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Thus, instead of being worried and depressed, the Christian would have God's peace (4:7).
Paul was well acquainted with victory through rejoicing in the Lord. When he and Silas were evangelizing in Philippi, they were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. In chains in the rat-infested dungeon, they prayed and sang praises to the Lord. Suddenly an earthquake shook the prison's foundations. The doors flew open; the prisoners were loosed from their shackles.
Similarly, we are loosed from the shackles of depression, anxiety, fears, and worries as we pray and rejoice in the Lord. For how can the flesh keep us down when we are up in the Spirit?
If you rejoice in the Lord every morning, think what a difference it would make in your life. Practice this when you awaken. Tell the Lord you love Him. Then thank and praise Him for every blessing you can think of. Thank Him for who He is. Rejoicing in the Lord will soon be a habit.The Apostle Paul put it this way: "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say I again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).
Heavenly Father,When rejoicing feels foreign in my circumstances I ask that Your Holy Spirit would remind me to choose thankfulness. Help me to focus on who You are and on Your strength and might and wisdom that is available to me. Today I WILL rejoice in You, my God and my Savior. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Questions: What difficult circumstances are keeping you from rejoicing in the Lord today? How can you turn from feeling downhearted to rejoicing even though the circumstances have not changed?
2 comments:
This is a bit off topic from your post but slightly related...
I've been reading lots of books, websites, and other things designed for Christian women. They are always the same: they go on and on about how miserble we women are and if we'd be happy and thankful and greatful then we'd be much happier...
I also just read a book called, "Happy Housewives." I was expecting a happy book! Instead it was the same thing. "If you would quit being this and that and be more greatful and thankful for your life you'd be so much happier..."
How is it that we spoiled Western women are so miserable? And Christian Western women no less! I just don't understand it. I mean, these books wouldn't sell and folk wouldn't be writing on the topic if it wasn't a problem.
We have EVERYTHING!! Electricity. Running water. HOT water! (Ok, maybe not for folk in Alaska but I've lived without running water and it's no big deal in America because you still have SO MUCH). We have carpets and rugs, floors (instead of dirt...) and computers and money to buy books. We have decent clothes and shoes (even the poor people of the West have clothes and shoes!) we have sewage systems and dumps so our trash isn't rotting in the streets.... grocery stores, church buildings... I mean, the list is ENDLESS!
So why are women so miserable? I'm totally confused...
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~blessings
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