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WEEK 17 – Rejoice Always
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WEEK 17 – Rejoice Always
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WEEK 17 – REJOICE ALWAYS
This week we’re talking about “Rejoice Always.”
I think one of the hardest things to do from Scripture is to REJOICE ALWAYS.
There are just so many different circumstances and seasons in life.
Life is hard. It can be discouraging, disappointing, scary, intimidating, completely frightening even.
It seems like some people succeed, and some people fail (but in reality we all have both).
It seems like some people are blessed with ease and others just struggle.
Life seems unfair sometimes, do you feel me?
But still the Bible says in 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 to:
“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
AGGGHGHHHHHH!!!!!
REJOICE ALWAYS!?!
I mean I get “Pray continually.
But “give thanks in ALL circumstances?
REALLY?
Ugh. Sometimes it’s really hard. And this is coming from someone who is like eternally optimistic, almost ALWAYS in a good mood, almost entirely unshakeable…almost haha.
But still, life is just really hard sometimes right?
I think the Holy Spirit’s directive to “REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY & GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES” comes from the fact that Jesus is OUTSIDE & BEYOND & ABOVE our sometimes terrible circumstances, therefor He offers US a way to rise above them no matter what as well.
Here’s the deal… we ALL have the decision, in our own souls, to mope, or compare, or stay a victim (even in the midst of tragic circumstances)…
OR!
We also all have the decision, on the other hand, to cling to Jesus, to rise above, and to not let any sort of suffering define us.
EVEN in the heat of the Battle, we have the choice to rise above it, and to literally be SO THANKFUL TO JESUS for His Salvation, His Love, For His Suffering on our behalf, for Him making us right with the Father again when there is no way EVER that we could have done that on our own, for our Hope in Heaven & Eternity with Him… and so much more!
Sighhhhhhhhh… (*HUGE releasing deep breath out*)
When we look to Jesus, everything else fades away, and everything else seems to go away.
Even if it’s technically still there. It’s like a HOLY numbing effect that God makes us invincible in His arms.
Like I said, even if earthly suffering is still there, we have the ability to literally rise above, to REJOICE even in the midst of it, to pray, and to thank the Lord… no matter what.
And it’s really our ticket into freedom, confidence, hope, help, and so much more… a dependence on Jesus, a focus on His care & closeness, and an intimacy with Him that overcomes our struggles and sets us free.
We are not victims. We are not slaves. We are not anything this world says… we are Jesus’s sons and daughters and we are in His arms.
Now THAT is reason to REJOICE ALWAYS, pray continually, & to GIVE THANKS NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I PRAY THE LORD ENCOURAGES YOUR SPIRIT DEEP WITHIN YOU AND BRIGHTENS UP YOUR DAY!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- What circumstances might be trying to discourage and keep you down?
- How could you rise above and press through by focusing on Jesus & His great love?
- How could you even set a new habit in your life to default to this nature of REJOICING & this better perspective on a regular basis (lifestyle)?
SCRIPTURE
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
WEEKLY FOCUS
This week, read through this Scripture each morning.
Think about just how incredible it is to be able to rise above through REJOICING.
Ask God if there are any areas you need to surrender or change in order to be able to truly choose this perspective through it all.
Let this theme guide your God time all week, and even your thoughts and conversation with Him through out your days, all week long.
Let Him speak to you about this idea of REJOICING ALWAYS, and see what He says.
We’d love to hear your feedback, so hop into the devos conversation thread in SLACK & we’re excited to see what the Lord speaks to you this week.
BLESSINGS!
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