Rejoice Always
By Ana Blackwell
Is it possible to rejoice always, pray continually, and be thankful in every circumstance? No, humanly speaking, we are unable to fulfill the command given by Holy Spirit through Paul.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes 5:16-18)
The only way a person can achieve such a lifestyle is through submitting to the Lord Jesus, and allowing Holy Spirit to come live on the inside. Let’s take a look at each command individually and dive deeper into what the Lord can do on the inside of a person.
Joy is more than a feeling, it is a state of being. Look what the Bible says the Kingdom of God is like.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17)
So, we see that a third of God’s dwelling place is made up of joy. It is no wonder Jesus tells us to ask the Father to answer prayers so that our joy would be complete. It is because the Lord wants to unleash His kingdom on the Earth. Remember this scripture? “Your kingdom come, Your will be done”.
Also, joy can be present even in the valleys, the deserts, and the storms. I wasn’t feeling good the other day. So, the first thing I did was pray for healing. Then, I realized, praise be to the Father who is Eternal and Master of all things, and who will one day take away all suffering. Thinking in such a way brought happiness even in my state of infirmity. There can be joy in the waiting, when the world is upside-down. The Word says to count it all joy when you go through sufferings because this will produce characteristics that elevate us to a more divine state of being. In other words, we end up looking more like our Father if we are able to rejoice in trials.
Next, let’s talk about prayer. Not a five minute devotional, but a continuous conversation with the Almighty throughout the day. I’m talking about talking to Jesus about your boyfriend while your washing dishes, talking to Him about your plans, and asking Him what, or who He wants you to interseed for that day. This is actually easy once you get into the habit. Talking to God is not only fun, but beneficial.
I tend to be anxious for my little girl when I watch her all by myself because I am totally blind. She has fallen and tried to swallow the strangest things so far during her short life of 19 months. The worst is actually when she is a sneaky ninja and doesn’t make a sound. I find myself saying “thank you Jesus for being here and protecting my child because I definitely can’t do this on my own”. An unexplainable peace comes over me as I pray and try to find sneaky Amelia around the home. Clearly, the Lord is good because He answers my prayers for the little princess each day.
Another thing I wanted to further discuss about prayer is the different places we can exercise our direct access to the Creator. I pray when I go to the store, hiking, walking, running errands, wherever my responsibilities take me that day. I’m not just talking about getting that good parking spot at the Walmart. I pray for the people around me. I pray for God to bless the owners of the business I walk into. I praise God for His creation that has obeyed His word from the beginning of time. Isn’t it amazing how the Lord’s command to be and multiply has never failed? All of nature obeys the laws God put into motion long ago. No wonder I can find thing after thing to be amazed about and to talk to Him about.
Lastly, let’s talk about being thankful in every situation. I think this is a hard one, especially when we read about the life of Jesus, and how He proclaims to be the one who has come to give life, and give it to the fullest (John 10:10). Nevertheless, there is power in being thankful while waiting on God. It shows the devil that we actually believe our Father is good, and it shows God that we do trust Him with our lives. Is there a greater story of trust than in the book of Job? No matter what the enemy threw at this man, the guy never doubted that his God was still in control. Not only that, but he was humble enough to say, “the Lord gives, the Lord takes”. Even though it wasn’t God who was stealing and destroying everything Job had, the man was humble enough to admit that everything he had was from God; therefore, not really his.
Something happens in our lives when we realize that the job we have is because the Lord gave us the ability and opportunity. Or, when we acknowledge that those precious kids we have are His first, and everything from our goals to our final day on Earth. We would have nothing if it were not for God. Therefore, it is easy to be thankful in all things because we know we have a God who is watching over us and provides for all of our needs.
I serve a mighty God; therefore, it is possible to rejoice always, pray continually, and be thankful in every circumstance. My life is in the hands of the Lord, and He never fails.
