DEVOTIONAL: Rejoice and Be Glad
Rejoice and Be Glad
Ever since I was a little girl I have heard my parents recite the bible verse Psalm 118:24, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” My mom would come wake me up in the morning singing this to me. That has been birthed in me since as long as I can remember and one of the reasons, I feel that God has given me such a positive outlook and attitude in life. My parents taught me at a young age that regardless of our circumstances that we should rejoice in the Lord and be glad!
When you wake up in the morning what are your first thoughts? Are you thinking….I am going to rejoice in another day, or do you have a pessimistic outlook that automatically starts your day off negatively thus provoking anxiety and stress before you even leave your house? Did you know that your approach to your daily life can either work against you or it can work for you? Either way, that is a decision that God lets us make for ourselves each day we wake. You woke up today, you are still alive, you have a roof over your head and food in your stomach so REJOICE and BE GLAD!
I know, sometimes it is hard to “Be Glad” in our day especially when life is difficult. It doesn’t help when we start off the day complaining and seeing the worst in our day and life. I think some of us just wake up on the wrong side of the bed….everyday! Just a little food for thought……Can you imagine what others are thinking when they see us coming if we are one of the type people who are negative and sees the glass half empty all the time? You woke up and let the enemy steal your joy already and now the rest of your day is going to follow suit and those around you are going to know it. It is not always easy to “Be Glad” when we are facing a hard day, we are experiencing difficulty or things are just not going the way we want but we can’t let the enemy steal one more day of our joy. Instead, live out the day with a cheerful heart showing the love of Christ to all that we meet knowing that no matter what comes our way, God is with us and we have nothing to fear or worry about. We can be glad because if God be for us, who can be against us. We can be glad because we know that God will never leave us nor forsake us. We can be glad because God goes before us and is fighting our battles. We can be glad because no matter what life throws at us, God will be with us and see us through it. We can be glad because the JOY of the Lord is our strength.
Imagine what people think, if we as Christians are the ones who don’t trust God and is negative in our thinking and our actions? We have to be the light and show others that WE can be glad no matter what life brings our way!
I want when the world sees me, that they see the Joy of the Lord and that even when times are hard, they know that Christ lives in me because it is evident in the way I live EVEN in those tough times and even when things around me are not going as planned. I truly believe that because I have cultivated a positive mindset that God has allowed me to be thankful, rejoice and truly be glad even through the tough times and storms of life. Try being glad, being positive, spreading JOY and praying throughout the day so that no matter what life brings, no matter how hard things may seem and even when you wake up on the wrong side of the bead, you can say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Prayer of Rejoicing:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you today and I thank you for loving me even when my heart does not rejoice in all that you have done in my life. I ask you dear Lord to wake me up each morning with a heart full of gladness so that others can see you living in me through the joy that you have put in my heart. I ask you to be with me and help me to rejoice even when going through the fire. May the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth always be acceptable unto you oh Lord. Thank you for another day. I will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus Name I pray….Amen.
Bible Verses of Rejoicing
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Philippians 4:4-5 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”
Psalm 5:11 “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name, be joyful in You.”
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