“Rejoice always.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NKJV)
If you are considering Bible memorization, this is a good verse with which to begin. Short and sweet. Simple to memorize, but not quite as simple to do.
“Rejoice” isn’t a word we typically use, but it means “to feel or show joy”.
How do we feel joy if we really don’t feel joy?
There is a difference between how we feel and what is happening within our spirits. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of our spirit, joy is in us, even if we may have buried it deeply under many other things. It may take some time and practice, but if we quiet our minds and search inside of our spirits, joy will rise to the surface.
Feelings seem to be spontaneous, but we really do have a choice what feelings we allow to control us.
“Rejoice always.” Always. This leaves no wiggle room for vacations from rejoicing.
And let’s face it, what good are complaints and whines? They only leave us wallowing in more complaining and whining.
Rejoicing feels so much better and if we truly live in God’s love, we know His faithfulness meets us at every turn and His blessings are all around.
The Lord never tells us to do something we cannot do. No matter how we feel, we can dig deep and find the joy.
We can rejoice. Always.