Anyone can frown. Anyone can complain about the economy or worry about finances. But it takes a strong person to look at his or her problems and make the choice to rejoice!
Recently, I've been meditating on what God has been doing in our lives, and it came to my attention how important it is that we as believers rejoice! To be spiritually healthy, we must give place to the joy of the Lord.
We might compare rejoicing in the Lord to baking a perfect cake. For example, we could mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, and baking soda together—but if we didn't add flour to the batter, the cake that came out of the oven would be very flat! That's how it is with our spiritual walk. If we don't add rejoicing, we're going to have a very flat Christian experience.
Of course, we all know that many times we don't feel like rejoicing. However, that doesn't change the fact that we are actually commanded to rejoice! We have to focus on rejoicing and do it on purpose instead of just waiting for some kind of feeling to overtake us that makes us want to rejoice. I never realized this truth more than during my recent studies on Philippians 4:4, a very familiar verse to most of us. It says, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
As I was studying this verse, I realized as never before that Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi while suffering in prison. Not only did Paul tell us we were to rejoice in the Lord, he said we were to rejoice in the Lord always! Then he said, "…and again I say, Rejoice." It was as if Paul was saying, "Rejoice in the Lord always—and in case you didn't get it the first time, I'm saying it again: Rejoice!" Just as we've been given the Ten Commandments, such as, "Thou shalt not kill," and, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," God has also commanded us to rejoice! We must each make a decision whether to obey or ignore or water down this holy command.
But how can we ignore God's command to rejoice always? Rejoicing causes a spiritual transformation to take place in our lives. When we look into the mirror each morning and tell ourselves to smile and rejoice in the Lord, it powerfully affects our attitude. And it's not just a demonstration of "mind over matter." When we choose to rejoice, the spiritual force of joy is manifested, and we carry that joy with us—to our family in the kitchen, to our coworkers on the job, and to strangers in the marketplace.
When you walk into your workplace full of joy, the joy you exhibit is one of the hallmark signs that you're a believer. Anyone can frown. Anyone can complain about the economy or worry about finances. But it takes a strong person to look at his or her problems—as the apostle Paul looked at his situation in prison—and make the choice to rejoice!
Darkness surrounded Paul in that prison where he wrote the book of Philippians. Paul wasn't surrounded with creature comforts—he had real problems! I'm certain that the problems you face are real too. I'm not making light of anything that the enemy would bring against you to distract you or overwhelm you and try to swallow you up with hopelessness or anguish of soul. But you can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might because the joy of the Lord is your strength (Eph. 6:10; Neh. 8:10)!
I may have told you this before, but it bears repeating. With the challenges I've faced living in the former Soviet Union for the last 17 years, I've had plenty of opportunities to get out of bed in the morning with a gloomy look on my face. But I knew that I was "creating my world" with my attitude and that all it took was one small decision—one simple act of purpose—to do it right. So instead of allowing myself to feel gloomy, I'd throw my feet firmly on the floor, walk over to my mirror, stare into my own eyes, and say, "Denise, this is the day that the Lord has made. You will rejoice and be glad in it!"
As an act of my will, I'd speak from the depths of my spirit to my flesh and my soul. I didn't always start smiling the first time I exhorted myself, so I'd say it again! It was my choice to rejoice—and it's your choice as well. You choose whether you will rejoice in the Lord, no matter what.
Along with rejoicing comes the huge benefit of increased strength—spirit, soul, and body. I know you need God's strength today and every day, just as I do, and the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). However, it's only as we choose to stir up joy that we're going to actually experience His strength.
The Bible also says that God will give you the garment of praise in place of the spirit of heaviness (see Isa. 61:3). Just as you can put on a garment of praise, you may have to take off a garment of heaviness. Heaviness can be like a cloak that someone wraps around you, but it's your choice whether you will wear it.
God has given you the ability to take off that garment of heaviness and to put on another garment called praise! When you put on your praise garment, you begin to draw from the wells of salvation and provision (Isa. 12:3). As you praise God, He immediately comes on the scene, and in His presence you begin to find fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).
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Denise Renner is a minister, author, and classically trained vocalist. Alongside her husband Rick Renner, Denise spent more than a decade ministering stateside before they co-founded their international ministry. Together they have proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the former Soviet Union and around the world for more than 30 years. Denise is the author of books published in both Russian and English, including her book "Who Stole Cinderella?" and "Unstoppable".
