Joel 2:23 (NIV)
Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
Rejoice in the Lord your God! As I read that phrase … my thoughts wandered over the past several weeks and months. I had to ask myself, have I rejoiced in the Lord my God? In the midst of trials and troubles … as pandemic restrictions and cultural chaos continue in our nation and around the world … have I stopped a moment to intentionally rejoice in the Lord? The word rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. I have to admit that I have not “felt” great joy or delight lately when I look at the tribulation in the world around me. But maybe that is the point. Perhaps, I’m looking at the wrong things. Maybe my focus should be on something that does bring excitement, joy, and delight to the heart….
The Apostle Paul urges us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” And I love the context in which we find this encouragement:
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I think there is a message here for us. Do not be anxious about anything; rather, we should take our cares and concerns to God in prayer with thanksgiving. One might ask, “Why with thanksgiving before you even know the outcome or answer to the prayer?” Well, think about what God has already done in your life…. Consider His faithfulness! He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Yes, we should think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. We should set our minds and hearts on God and the love He lavishes on us through Christ Jesus!
Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Quoting Psalm 44:22) 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Oh, we have so many reasons to rejoice in the Lord! From A to Z we can rejoice in Him:
Rejoice in His abundance.
Rejoice in His anointing.
Rejoice in His atonement.
Rejoice in His authority.
Rejoice in His baptism.
Rejoice in His beauty.
Rejoice in His blessing.
Rejoice in His calling.
Rejoice in His comfort.
Rejoice in His compassion.
Rejoice in His covenant.
Rejoice in His creation.
Rejoice in His cross.
Rejoice in His deliverance.
Rejoice in His discipline.
Rejoice in His election.
Rejoice in His encouragement.
Rejoice in His eternal life.
Rejoice in His faithfulness.
Rejoice in His forgiveness.
Rejoice in His freedom.
Rejoice in His gentleness.
Rejoice in His gifts.
Rejoice in His glory.
Rejoice in His grace.
Rejoice in His healing.
Rejoice in His holiness.
Rejoice in His intercession.
Rejoice in His intimacy.
Rejoice in His justice.
Rejoice in His kindness.
Rejoice in His kingdom.
Rejoice in His liberty.
Rejoice in His life.
Rejoice in His light.
Rejoice in His longsuffering.
Rejoice in His love.
Rejoice in His mercy.
Rejoice in His name.
Rejoice in His omnipotence.
Rejoice in His omniscience.
Rejoice in His peace.
Rejoice in His presence.
Rejoice in His promises.
Rejoice in His protection.
Rejoice in His provision.
Rejoice in His purpose.
Rejoice in His quiet.
Rejoice in His redemption.
Rejoice in His restoration.
Rejoice in His resurrection.
Rejoice in His righteousness.
Rejoice in His sacrifice.
Rejoice in His salvation.
Rejoice in His sovereignty.
Rejoice in His testimony.
Rejoice in His truth.
Rejoice in His unity.
Rejoice in His victory.
Rejoice in His wisdom.
Rejoice in His word.
Rejoice in His yoke.
Rejoice in His zeal.
So, perhaps, we should spend less time on what we see … and rejoice in who we know. He is everything that matters most. So, again I say, Rejoice!
So Now You Know 