Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Rejoicing in the Lord at all times is commanded as a continual duty, pressed with a repeated call to rejoice again. The joy is grounded in the Lord Himself, in His love, sufficiency and presence, rather than in changing circumstances, feelings or self-confidence. It holds even in trial, persecution, imprisonment and heaviness, as Paul gave the call while a prisoner with courage and hope resting on God. Such rejoicing is an act of trust in the heavenly Father, believing His Word is sure, asking in childlike faith, and refusing doubt and despondency even when the answer is delayed. It is joined to freedom from anxious care through prayer with thanksgiving bringing the peace of God, to gentle moderation because the Lord is near, and to fixing the mind only on what is true, pure, lovely and praiseworthy.
Always Rejoice in Lord
Rejoice in the Lord always means continual, unceasing rejoicing at all times, and the command is repeated as and again I say, Rejoice to press the duty with emphasis and triumph. The repetition makes the call ring with triumph even though it was given by a prisoner, showing that hardship does not prevent this joy.
The joy commanded is in the Lord, grounded in the Lord Himself rather than in changing circumstances. It is rejoicing in Christ's love because Jesus Christ is all-sufficient, resting in Jesus as the only hope rather than in confidence in self. It does not depend on steady or pleasant feelings, for trust in God and His Word steadies faith when feelings change, and confidence in God's promises strengthens it. Discouragement, grief, and difficulties caused by others should not keep believers from that joy, but trials should drive them to Christ. He is the living Saviour who sustains through temptation, care, and darkness, gives grace and hope, imputes His righteousness, saves from sin, and brings into the light of His presence, so joy and courage rest in God and not in human strength.
Paul's repeated call shows that joy in the Lord is possible at all times even amid persecution, imprisonment, and severe hardship, because Christ is present with His followers. His courage and hope amid danger, imprisonment, and shipwreck rested on God and the love of Christ, not on favorable circumstances. The call echoes Jesus' teaching about the heavenly reward of those who suffer reproach for Him, and this joy with the reward of knowing and possessing Christ begins in this life as the heart receives more of His love and character, not only in the future life.
The call belongs to standing fast in the Lord and being of the same mind in the Lord. It is spoken to dearly beloved brethren who are joy and crown, including Euodias and Syntyche and other women who labored in the gospel with Clement and fellow-laborers whose names are in the book of life.
Trust Behind the Joy
Rejoicing is an act of trusting the heavenly Father, believing that God means what He says. It means asking in childlike faith with the rich assurances of His Word before us, believing the request will be received because His word is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. It refuses to doubt His Word even when an answer is not immediately returned and is delayed.
Distrusting His Word dishonors God more than anything else. Feeling is not reliable, while confidence in God's promises strengthens and steadies faith. His Word is the safe foundation on which hope may rest.
Confidence rests on precious tokens of the Saviour's love and mercy and tender compassion, with His goodness and power gathered up and kept in memory's hall. Remembering past mercies and grace received builds holy confidence and trust for present trials and keeps anxiety about future troubles from disturbing present peace. Jesus gladly receives the imperfect and weak as His children, and His goodness to humanity shows He is a loving Father worthy of praise.
This means trusting all with Jesus who stands at the helm and has not left control to other hands and minds. It means being firm in purpose to wait upon the Lord and cast the burden upon Him, walking by faith and not by sight in Christ's precious love and leaving perplexities with Him. Those who obey receive God's grace and bring uplifting, sanctifying grace into their own life and into the lives of others.
Through His grace continual rejoicing gives strength to overcome one difficulty after another. That experience of overcoming strengthens faith and confidence to believe that being an overcomer is possible. It calls for thankfulness with heart and soul and voice for the privilege of becoming a child of God and an heir of heaven, for patience without impatience even when others make unreasonable demands, and for kindly, loving work to restrain others from wrong, point them to the way of life, and tell them the Word of the living God.
Faith in God's Word and in Christ's power to transform the life enables believers to live according to the Word and to rejoice in the Lord.
Joy Through Trial and Hardship
Rejoicing in the Lord is possible and commanded at all times, even amid trials, persecution, imprisonment, darkness, temptation, confusion, annoyances, and severe hardship. It rests on faith in God and on Christ's presence with His followers, and it goes with laboring in Christ's spirit to win others, speaking of God's goodness and power with hope and trust instead of dwelling on trials, which strengthens good traits and encourages others. Such praise does not bring gloom into the home but brings light and life from God's throne into one's own home and into companions' lives, helping them seek heaven and lasting, imperishable riches.
Rejoicing remains a continual privilege even in trouble and when for a season in heaviness through manifold temptations. It stands against Satan's effort to torture souls into unbelief by pressing the idea that God is displeased with them. Patiently resting in God's love and trusting His ongoing work gives joy and prompts praise, revealing life hidden with Christ and kept in living connection with heaven. Giving way to complaint means losing much, while patient trust through permitted trials allows God to purify the believer and bring through with triumph and rejoicing to great blessing.
The command forbids giving way to complaint, murmuring, impatience, repining, cheerlessness, despondency, dwelling on darkness and suppositions and unpleasant things, over-anxiety, worriment, inconsiderate and unbelieving speech, and dwelling on what is of no profit. It forbids dwelling upon darkness which would make the whole life a shadow, and calls for firm purpose to wait on the Lord and cast the burden on Him while trusting all with Jesus who stands at the helm and has not left control to other hands. There is reason for joy in precious tokens of the Saviour's love and mercy and tender compassion gathered and kept in memory, with courage at all times, hope and trust and prayer believing God hears the prayer of faith, expecting salvation and sweet refreshing seasons from His presence, letting no cloud shadow the mind and no murmur escape lips or linger in soul, but closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward to bring His light and love and joy into the soul.
This joy belongs to the trial of faith more precious than gold tried with fire, where believing love for the unseen Christ brings joy unspeakable and full of glory unto praise and honor and glory at His appearing, receiving the end of faith even the salvation of souls from Christ who is the only hope. It applies when healing or help comes slowly, when sick and unable to work, when the work is hindered and the experience is hard and grievous, when carrying hard mission work with much still to do, when the crop is smaller than hoped, and when the end is near and God's Spirit is being withdrawn. When hindrance comes one is first to be sure it is not one's own fault, then to rejoice and look on the bright side and be free in the Lord, refusing to dwell on things of no profit. In hard mission work the rejoicing springs from reports of success, from blessing God's holy name, and from confidence that light lies ahead while being strong in the Lord's strength and advancing step by step nearer the gate of the New Jerusalem.
The joy and the reward of knowing and possessing Christ begin in this life as the heart receives more of His love and character and tastes heaven now, not only in the future life. Christ's promised hope and assurance leave no excuse for discontent or for showing disappointment with the path He has marked out. Praise and thanksgiving from sincere, thankful hearts under all circumstances replace discontent and despondency, with confidence in Christ's presence giving reason for joy.
Peace Prayer and Right Thinking
Rejoicing in the Lord always is joined to letting moderation and gentle restraint be known to all people because the Lord is at hand and near. It is part of standing fast and being of the same mind, spoken to dearly beloved brethren who are joy and crown, including Euodias and Syntyche and other women who labored in the gospel with Clement and fellow-laborers whose names are in the book of life. It comes from a heart sanctified by grace, filled with the active love of God, and submissive to His will and way even in little things, bringing peace, restfulness and trustfulness with a consistent course of obedience. It is to be held as the trust in the swiftly passing sowing time before the great crisis and closing scenes of earth's history.
It is joined to freedom from anxious care and overanxiety by being careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving making every need and request known to God. The result is that the peace of God beyond all human grasp and understanding guards and keeps the heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Refusing anxious care and deliberately gathering and storing the mind with what is precious in peace, righteousness and grace belongs to this same rejoicing.
It is joined to deliberately thinking only on whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. That thinking keeps the rejoicing by the peace of God in heart and mind through Christ Jesus, exercised by faith while walking through the hellish shadow of Satan with faith centered in Jesus as Advocate, growing in knowledge by beholding Him who is Truth. It is the way to be all light in the Lord and to refuse unbelief and distrust of brethren, with every reason to praise God and live.
It stands opposite judging the motives of others and thinking and speaking evil of them, seeking instead to behold the good and to look upon what is praiseworthy and virtuous rather than watching for inconsistency in others. Always rejoicing cures a critical, accusing spirit by refusing to feed on what is objectionable and on the supposed defects of others. It means controlling spirit and words at home and abroad, turning attention away from everything disagreeable, and putting away sin and long-cherished conjectures and imaginings that bring only weakness and no strength. It overcomes suspicion that construes the words of brethren as demerit.
The joy is joined to humility, not to a sense of superiority or to ambitious exalting of self. Peace and joy and victory come from the Lord alone as a holy, sanctified experience for those clothed with Christ's righteousness, requiring humility under God and giving all glory to God instead of uplifting self. Hiding in Christ and trusting in God allow Him to shape any disposition into one that is sweet and Christlike, while living faith separates the life from what conflicts with God's mind and brings a taste of heaven into life now. Then no unpleasantness comes from a person's words or the spirit surrounding them, but a joyous life.
Speech Character and Mind Renewed
Living faith reshapes any disposition into a sweet, Christlike one and separates the life from whatever is contrary to God's mind. Hiding in Christ and trusting in God makes that transformation possible, bringing humility rather than superiority and a present taste of heaven. When darkness threatens, singing and speaking in faith lead the heart into light, so that no unpleasantness comes from a person's words or the spirit surrounding them.
The joy belongs with a guarded, clear mind kept under God's control rather than weighed down by depressing influences. It looks to what is bright and refuses cheerlessness, rejoicing even when the experience is hard and grievous and the work is hindered, first making sure the hindrance is not one's own fault and then rejoicing and looking on the bright side rather than dwelling on what is of no profit. It shares heaven's joy over the sacrifice made for human redemption, with the church on earth full of praise and publishing the joy of serving Christ, strong in God's strength and joyful in His love, revealing redeeming grace, triumphing in the Redeemer's keeping power, gaining victory after victory over self through faith, and learning on earth the praise and thanksgiving whose keynote must be learned to join heaven's choir.
Rejoicing is expressed by talking faith, hope, and courage instead of Satan's power and devices, steadfastly looking to Jesus and speaking of God's greatness and power without fear. Speaking words of faith strengthens faith, strengthens good traits of character, and encourages others. Believers are to train speech to praise God, speak of His glory, and magnify His name, even when tempted to mourn. That rejoicing is to flow out in true, hopeful words that impart the riches of Christ's grace to others, showing forth the praises of Him who called out of darkness into marvelous light. Guarding speech so nothing but kindness escapes the lips gives evidence of preparing to become members of the heavenly family and exerts a reformative influence upon souls. Thankful praise rather than murmuring, even amid difficulty, with trust that the Lord will care, encourages others and strengthens the church by word and example.
Remembering and recounting God's daily blessings, mercies, and grace with gratitude and praise keeps difficulties in perspective, so that many supposed trials lose their weight. Remembering past mercies builds holy confidence and trust for present trials and keeps anxiety about future troubles from disturbing present peace. Praising Him for His grace today and every day, even when trials lie ahead, prepares the believer to meet conflict with confidence in Christ as sure refuge and help in every need. It means having courage in the Lord at all times and refusing to murmur, complain, or grow impatient even when healing or help comes slowly. It means hoping and trusting and praying believing God hears the prayer of faith, expecting to see God's salvation and to receive sweet refreshing seasons from His presence, letting no cloud shadow the mind and no murmur escape the lips or linger in the soul.
It means putting away all repining and speaking no unkind or distrustful or complaining words of Christ, trusting Jesus continually as helper, coming to Him in faith and leaving all perplexities with Him. It means bringing all possible sunshine into life, talking of Christ's goodness and power when discouragement comes, and speaking words of trust and hope and thankfulness as easily as complaint. It means closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward, which brings His light and love and joy into the soul. To rejoice is to weave Jesus into daily experience and rest in Him, taking His power as helper and going forward firmly, valiantly, and courageously without losing hold even when erring in judgment. He is wisdom, light, power, and a great Rock in a weary land under whose shadow to rest, whose arm of infinite power is grasped by living faith and held fast for needed wisdom without unbelief. Clinging more closely to the Saviour when jostled, misapprehended, misstated, and falsified as evidence of doing work for the Master, remaining as undisturbed as possible in difficulties, patient, kind, and forbearing, returning good for evil as Jesus did, looking to God above the ladder and climbing up by Jesus as the ladder, leads ere long into the everlasting kingdom.
Cheerfulness rests on God's blessing and encouragement of the heart, His personal care, and His providence working out His plans for those He has placed where He wants them to be. It is a continual response to His goodness, with looking toward what is bright and trusting God bringing cheerfulness and gladness, for His goodness to humanity shows He is a loving Father worthy of praise. A hopeful, believing, trusting Christian can rejoice and be thankful even while carrying responsibilities and burdens, and such trust brings peace and happiness.
Shared Joy in Daily Life
Rejoicing at all times, even in darkness and temptation, does not bring gloom into the home but brings light from God's throne into one's own home and into companions' lives, helping them toward heaven and lasting, imperishable riches. Those sanctified through the truth rejoice as channels through whom His love and grace flow to others, for He blesses His people to be a blessing, expressed in fervent prayer, testimonies of thanksgiving, and songs of praise from human lips which He delights to hear. Rejoicing is rejoicing together in victories in God's work, encouraging one another and strengthening the hands of workers who are doing their best and gaining success rather than weakening them or tearing them down. It is expressed through thankful praise rather than murmuring even amid difficulty, trusting that the Lord will care, with words and example of praise that encourage others and strengthen the church, with a humble and contrite heart divested of all pride that is moved by power from above.
The joy rests on faith in God and goes with laboring in Christ's spirit to win others to the truth, even amid trials and persecution. It goes together with carrying on hard mission work with much still to do, being strong in the Lord's strength, blessing His holy name for reports of success, with confidence that light lies ahead and advancing step by step nearer the gate of the New Jerusalem. It is a practical example of Christian principle and true godliness to praise God with thankful hearts in every circumstance and to rest in Him, even when the end is near and God's Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth. Christ's promised hope and assurance give reason for this joy and leave no excuse for discontent or for showing disappointment with the path He has marked out. Rejoicing belongs with faith even amid affliction, for God has helped and shown mercy, so confidence in Him should replace unbelief, holding firmly to His side and trusting His blessing and guidance through obedience. Patiently resting in God's love and trusting His ongoing work gives joy and prompts praise, revealing life hidden with Christ in God in living connection with heaven.
God's children rejoice in the Lord when freed from bondage and fear and from bondage to satanic power. Rejoicing is the right response to hearing of reformation and conversion, to seeing children cared for by their parent, and to God blessing parental labor for them, and to prayer bringing happiness, peace, and contentment to live or die. To rejoice is to be of good courage in the Lord and to honor the Saviour in spirit, word, action, and sincere love, praising Him with heart, soul, and voice and letting nothing come between the believer and Christ who is health of countenance, being happy and peaceful in God. It means cherishing pure, holy dignity without pride and learning His meekness and lowliness to find rest, peace, and happiness, while waiting only a short time longer and filling the time with deeds that glorify God in order to be found in Him at last with Christ's righteousness and not with own righteousness. Rejoicing is to be continual, belonging with faith, hope, courage, and thankfulness, and joy and courage rest in God not in own strength. Believers are to be of good courage by always rejoicing, showing steady cheerfulness, faith, and courage from God's grace without becoming cheap or trifling, for the religion of Jesus offers the world its only real hope and should not make followers gloomy or despondent. This shows the world that serving the Lord brings peace, joy, and happiness, and believers may be glad because of His sustaining grace and presence which supports hope and courage even amid tiring or discouraging work, with His word as comfort and guide. Workers rejoice when their work succeeds while remaining humble and dissatisfied with their own efforts because neglect has left good undone, and reliance on Christ gives abiding satisfaction and peace the world cannot give or take. A cheerful, joyful spirit grounded in trust in God is expressed through gratitude and praise rather than dwelling on fear or trouble. The Christian life should be marked at all times by such faith, victory, and joy in God, not by sadness, self-condemnation, or self-depreciation.
Rejoicing in the Lord at all times is commanded as a continual duty, pressed with a repeated call to rejoice again. The joy is grounded in the Lord Himself, in His love, sufficiency and presence, rather than in changing circumstances, feelings or self-confidence. It holds even in trial, persecution, imprisonment and heaviness, as Paul gave the call while a prisoner with courage and hope resting on God. Such rejoicing is an act of trust in the heavenly Father, believing His Word is sure, asking in childlike faith, and refusing doubt and despondency even when the answer is delayed. It is joined to freedom from anxious care through prayer with thanksgiving bringing the peace of God, to gentle moderation because the Lord is near, and to fixing the mind only on what is true, pure, lovely and praiseworthy.
Always Rejoice in Lord
Rejoice in the Lord always means continual, unceasing rejoicing at all times, and the command is repeated as and again I say, Rejoice to press the duty with emphasis and triumph. The repetition makes the call ring with triumph even though it was given by a prisoner, showing that hardship does not prevent this joy.
The joy commanded is in the Lord, grounded in the Lord Himself rather than in changing circumstances. It is rejoicing in Christ's love because Jesus Christ is all-sufficient, resting in Jesus as the only hope rather than in confidence in self. It does not depend on steady or pleasant feelings, for trust in God and His Word steadies faith when feelings change, and confidence in God's promises strengthens it. Discouragement, grief, and difficulties caused by others should not keep believers from that joy, but trials should drive them to Christ. He is the living Saviour who sustains through temptation, care, and darkness, gives grace and hope, imputes His righteousness, saves from sin, and brings into the light of His presence, so joy and courage rest in God and not in human strength.
Paul's repeated call shows that joy in the Lord is possible at all times even amid persecution, imprisonment, and severe hardship, because Christ is present with His followers. His courage and hope amid danger, imprisonment, and shipwreck rested on God and the love of Christ, not on favorable circumstances. The call echoes Jesus' teaching about the heavenly reward of those who suffer reproach for Him, and this joy with the reward of knowing and possessing Christ begins in this life as the heart receives more of His love and character, not only in the future life.
The call belongs to standing fast in the Lord and being of the same mind in the Lord. It is spoken to dearly beloved brethren who are joy and crown, including Euodias and Syntyche and other women who labored in the gospel with Clement and fellow-laborers whose names are in the book of life.
Trust Behind the Joy
Rejoicing is an act of trusting the heavenly Father, believing that God means what He says. It means asking in childlike faith with the rich assurances of His Word before us, believing the request will be received because His word is Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. It refuses to doubt His Word even when an answer is not immediately returned and is delayed.
Distrusting His Word dishonors God more than anything else. Feeling is not reliable, while confidence in God's promises strengthens and steadies faith. His Word is the safe foundation on which hope may rest.
Confidence rests on precious tokens of the Saviour's love and mercy and tender compassion, with His goodness and power gathered up and kept in memory's hall. Remembering past mercies and grace received builds holy confidence and trust for present trials and keeps anxiety about future troubles from disturbing present peace. Jesus gladly receives the imperfect and weak as His children, and His goodness to humanity shows He is a loving Father worthy of praise.
This means trusting all with Jesus who stands at the helm and has not left control to other hands and minds. It means being firm in purpose to wait upon the Lord and cast the burden upon Him, walking by faith and not by sight in Christ's precious love and leaving perplexities with Him. Those who obey receive God's grace and bring uplifting, sanctifying grace into their own life and into the lives of others.
Through His grace continual rejoicing gives strength to overcome one difficulty after another. That experience of overcoming strengthens faith and confidence to believe that being an overcomer is possible. It calls for thankfulness with heart and soul and voice for the privilege of becoming a child of God and an heir of heaven, for patience without impatience even when others make unreasonable demands, and for kindly, loving work to restrain others from wrong, point them to the way of life, and tell them the Word of the living God.
Faith in God's Word and in Christ's power to transform the life enables believers to live according to the Word and to rejoice in the Lord.
Joy Through Trial and Hardship
Rejoicing in the Lord is possible and commanded at all times, even amid trials, persecution, imprisonment, darkness, temptation, confusion, annoyances, and severe hardship. It rests on faith in God and on Christ's presence with His followers, and it goes with laboring in Christ's spirit to win others, speaking of God's goodness and power with hope and trust instead of dwelling on trials, which strengthens good traits and encourages others. Such praise does not bring gloom into the home but brings light and life from God's throne into one's own home and into companions' lives, helping them seek heaven and lasting, imperishable riches.
Rejoicing remains a continual privilege even in trouble and when for a season in heaviness through manifold temptations. It stands against Satan's effort to torture souls into unbelief by pressing the idea that God is displeased with them. Patiently resting in God's love and trusting His ongoing work gives joy and prompts praise, revealing life hidden with Christ and kept in living connection with heaven. Giving way to complaint means losing much, while patient trust through permitted trials allows God to purify the believer and bring through with triumph and rejoicing to great blessing.
The command forbids giving way to complaint, murmuring, impatience, repining, cheerlessness, despondency, dwelling on darkness and suppositions and unpleasant things, over-anxiety, worriment, inconsiderate and unbelieving speech, and dwelling on what is of no profit. It forbids dwelling upon darkness which would make the whole life a shadow, and calls for firm purpose to wait on the Lord and cast the burden on Him while trusting all with Jesus who stands at the helm and has not left control to other hands. There is reason for joy in precious tokens of the Saviour's love and mercy and tender compassion gathered and kept in memory, with courage at all times, hope and trust and prayer believing God hears the prayer of faith, expecting salvation and sweet refreshing seasons from His presence, letting no cloud shadow the mind and no murmur escape lips or linger in soul, but closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward to bring His light and love and joy into the soul.
This joy belongs to the trial of faith more precious than gold tried with fire, where believing love for the unseen Christ brings joy unspeakable and full of glory unto praise and honor and glory at His appearing, receiving the end of faith even the salvation of souls from Christ who is the only hope. It applies when healing or help comes slowly, when sick and unable to work, when the work is hindered and the experience is hard and grievous, when carrying hard mission work with much still to do, when the crop is smaller than hoped, and when the end is near and God's Spirit is being withdrawn. When hindrance comes one is first to be sure it is not one's own fault, then to rejoice and look on the bright side and be free in the Lord, refusing to dwell on things of no profit. In hard mission work the rejoicing springs from reports of success, from blessing God's holy name, and from confidence that light lies ahead while being strong in the Lord's strength and advancing step by step nearer the gate of the New Jerusalem.
The joy and the reward of knowing and possessing Christ begin in this life as the heart receives more of His love and character and tastes heaven now, not only in the future life. Christ's promised hope and assurance leave no excuse for discontent or for showing disappointment with the path He has marked out. Praise and thanksgiving from sincere, thankful hearts under all circumstances replace discontent and despondency, with confidence in Christ's presence giving reason for joy.
Peace Prayer and Right Thinking
Rejoicing in the Lord always is joined to letting moderation and gentle restraint be known to all people because the Lord is at hand and near. It is part of standing fast and being of the same mind, spoken to dearly beloved brethren who are joy and crown, including Euodias and Syntyche and other women who labored in the gospel with Clement and fellow-laborers whose names are in the book of life. It comes from a heart sanctified by grace, filled with the active love of God, and submissive to His will and way even in little things, bringing peace, restfulness and trustfulness with a consistent course of obedience. It is to be held as the trust in the swiftly passing sowing time before the great crisis and closing scenes of earth's history.
It is joined to freedom from anxious care and overanxiety by being careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving making every need and request known to God. The result is that the peace of God beyond all human grasp and understanding guards and keeps the heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Refusing anxious care and deliberately gathering and storing the mind with what is precious in peace, righteousness and grace belongs to this same rejoicing.
It is joined to deliberately thinking only on whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. That thinking keeps the rejoicing by the peace of God in heart and mind through Christ Jesus, exercised by faith while walking through the hellish shadow of Satan with faith centered in Jesus as Advocate, growing in knowledge by beholding Him who is Truth. It is the way to be all light in the Lord and to refuse unbelief and distrust of brethren, with every reason to praise God and live.
It stands opposite judging the motives of others and thinking and speaking evil of them, seeking instead to behold the good and to look upon what is praiseworthy and virtuous rather than watching for inconsistency in others. Always rejoicing cures a critical, accusing spirit by refusing to feed on what is objectionable and on the supposed defects of others. It means controlling spirit and words at home and abroad, turning attention away from everything disagreeable, and putting away sin and long-cherished conjectures and imaginings that bring only weakness and no strength. It overcomes suspicion that construes the words of brethren as demerit.
The joy is joined to humility, not to a sense of superiority or to ambitious exalting of self. Peace and joy and victory come from the Lord alone as a holy, sanctified experience for those clothed with Christ's righteousness, requiring humility under God and giving all glory to God instead of uplifting self. Hiding in Christ and trusting in God allow Him to shape any disposition into one that is sweet and Christlike, while living faith separates the life from what conflicts with God's mind and brings a taste of heaven into life now. Then no unpleasantness comes from a person's words or the spirit surrounding them, but a joyous life.
Speech Character and Mind Renewed
Living faith reshapes any disposition into a sweet, Christlike one and separates the life from whatever is contrary to God's mind. Hiding in Christ and trusting in God makes that transformation possible, bringing humility rather than superiority and a present taste of heaven. When darkness threatens, singing and speaking in faith lead the heart into light, so that no unpleasantness comes from a person's words or the spirit surrounding them.
The joy belongs with a guarded, clear mind kept under God's control rather than weighed down by depressing influences. It looks to what is bright and refuses cheerlessness, rejoicing even when the experience is hard and grievous and the work is hindered, first making sure the hindrance is not one's own fault and then rejoicing and looking on the bright side rather than dwelling on what is of no profit. It shares heaven's joy over the sacrifice made for human redemption, with the church on earth full of praise and publishing the joy of serving Christ, strong in God's strength and joyful in His love, revealing redeeming grace, triumphing in the Redeemer's keeping power, gaining victory after victory over self through faith, and learning on earth the praise and thanksgiving whose keynote must be learned to join heaven's choir.
Rejoicing is expressed by talking faith, hope, and courage instead of Satan's power and devices, steadfastly looking to Jesus and speaking of God's greatness and power without fear. Speaking words of faith strengthens faith, strengthens good traits of character, and encourages others. Believers are to train speech to praise God, speak of His glory, and magnify His name, even when tempted to mourn. That rejoicing is to flow out in true, hopeful words that impart the riches of Christ's grace to others, showing forth the praises of Him who called out of darkness into marvelous light. Guarding speech so nothing but kindness escapes the lips gives evidence of preparing to become members of the heavenly family and exerts a reformative influence upon souls. Thankful praise rather than murmuring, even amid difficulty, with trust that the Lord will care, encourages others and strengthens the church by word and example.
Remembering and recounting God's daily blessings, mercies, and grace with gratitude and praise keeps difficulties in perspective, so that many supposed trials lose their weight. Remembering past mercies builds holy confidence and trust for present trials and keeps anxiety about future troubles from disturbing present peace. Praising Him for His grace today and every day, even when trials lie ahead, prepares the believer to meet conflict with confidence in Christ as sure refuge and help in every need. It means having courage in the Lord at all times and refusing to murmur, complain, or grow impatient even when healing or help comes slowly. It means hoping and trusting and praying believing God hears the prayer of faith, expecting to see God's salvation and to receive sweet refreshing seasons from His presence, letting no cloud shadow the mind and no murmur escape the lips or linger in the soul.
It means putting away all repining and speaking no unkind or distrustful or complaining words of Christ, trusting Jesus continually as helper, coming to Him in faith and leaving all perplexities with Him. It means bringing all possible sunshine into life, talking of Christ's goodness and power when discouragement comes, and speaking words of trust and hope and thankfulness as easily as complaint. It means closing the windows of the soul earthward and opening them heavenward, which brings His light and love and joy into the soul. To rejoice is to weave Jesus into daily experience and rest in Him, taking His power as helper and going forward firmly, valiantly, and courageously without losing hold even when erring in judgment. He is wisdom, light, power, and a great Rock in a weary land under whose shadow to rest, whose arm of infinite power is grasped by living faith and held fast for needed wisdom without unbelief. Clinging more closely to the Saviour when jostled, misapprehended, misstated, and falsified as evidence of doing work for the Master, remaining as undisturbed as possible in difficulties, patient, kind, and forbearing, returning good for evil as Jesus did, looking to God above the ladder and climbing up by Jesus as the ladder, leads ere long into the everlasting kingdom.
Cheerfulness rests on God's blessing and encouragement of the heart, His personal care, and His providence working out His plans for those He has placed where He wants them to be. It is a continual response to His goodness, with looking toward what is bright and trusting God bringing cheerfulness and gladness, for His goodness to humanity shows He is a loving Father worthy of praise. A hopeful, believing, trusting Christian can rejoice and be thankful even while carrying responsibilities and burdens, and such trust brings peace and happiness.
Shared Joy in Daily Life
Rejoicing at all times, even in darkness and temptation, does not bring gloom into the home but brings light from God's throne into one's own home and into companions' lives, helping them toward heaven and lasting, imperishable riches. Those sanctified through the truth rejoice as channels through whom His love and grace flow to others, for He blesses His people to be a blessing, expressed in fervent prayer, testimonies of thanksgiving, and songs of praise from human lips which He delights to hear. Rejoicing is rejoicing together in victories in God's work, encouraging one another and strengthening the hands of workers who are doing their best and gaining success rather than weakening them or tearing them down. It is expressed through thankful praise rather than murmuring even amid difficulty, trusting that the Lord will care, with words and example of praise that encourage others and strengthen the church, with a humble and contrite heart divested of all pride that is moved by power from above.
The joy rests on faith in God and goes with laboring in Christ's spirit to win others to the truth, even amid trials and persecution. It goes together with carrying on hard mission work with much still to do, being strong in the Lord's strength, blessing His holy name for reports of success, with confidence that light lies ahead and advancing step by step nearer the gate of the New Jerusalem. It is a practical example of Christian principle and true godliness to praise God with thankful hearts in every circumstance and to rest in Him, even when the end is near and God's Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth. Christ's promised hope and assurance give reason for this joy and leave no excuse for discontent or for showing disappointment with the path He has marked out. Rejoicing belongs with faith even amid affliction, for God has helped and shown mercy, so confidence in Him should replace unbelief, holding firmly to His side and trusting His blessing and guidance through obedience. Patiently resting in God's love and trusting His ongoing work gives joy and prompts praise, revealing life hidden with Christ in God in living connection with heaven.
God's children rejoice in the Lord when freed from bondage and fear and from bondage to satanic power. Rejoicing is the right response to hearing of reformation and conversion, to seeing children cared for by their parent, and to God blessing parental labor for them, and to prayer bringing happiness, peace, and contentment to live or die. To rejoice is to be of good courage in the Lord and to honor the Saviour in spirit, word, action, and sincere love, praising Him with heart, soul, and voice and letting nothing come between the believer and Christ who is health of countenance, being happy and peaceful in God. It means cherishing pure, holy dignity without pride and learning His meekness and lowliness to find rest, peace, and happiness, while waiting only a short time longer and filling the time with deeds that glorify God in order to be found in Him at last with Christ's righteousness and not with own righteousness. Rejoicing is to be continual, belonging with faith, hope, courage, and thankfulness, and joy and courage rest in God not in own strength. Believers are to be of good courage by always rejoicing, showing steady cheerfulness, faith, and courage from God's grace without becoming cheap or trifling, for the religion of Jesus offers the world its only real hope and should not make followers gloomy or despondent. This shows the world that serving the Lord brings peace, joy, and happiness, and believers may be glad because of His sustaining grace and presence which supports hope and courage even amid tiring or discouraging work, with His word as comfort and guide. Workers rejoice when their work succeeds while remaining humble and dissatisfied with their own efforts because neglect has left good undone, and reliance on Christ gives abiding satisfaction and peace the world cannot give or take. A cheerful, joyful spirit grounded in trust in God is expressed through gratitude and praise rather than dwelling on fear or trouble. The Christian life should be marked at all times by such faith, victory, and joy in God, not by sadness, self-condemnation, or self-depreciation.