GRACE AMBASSADORS

Rejoice in the Lord

This originally appeared as an email delivered on
Saturday, June 17th, 2023.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” – Phi 4:4

When I was a child, I did not enjoy eating salads. I can remember being told, “You will eat this and enjoy it.”

Though it was eaten, I don’t remember enjoying it. You cannot make someone else enjoy something.

I enjoyed eating other things, but I was not told to enjoy those. Joy came naturally. It turned out that much of what I enjoyed eating was not good for me.

Rejoicing in the Lord is not natural to our flesh. Our flesh rejoices naturally in many things that our heart desires, many of which are not good for us.

Paul’s instruction is to rejoice in the Lord. This should come from a willing heart, but what if your heart and mind are not on the things of the Lord. Can what you enjoy change?

Yes, it can. When you know the benefits, goodness, or beauty of something else you begin to enjoy it. I enjoy a well-prepared Brussel sprout now, especially when I acknowledge what is good about them.

Want to change your rejoicing to be in the Lord? The desires of your heart need changed.

The Bible says the God of hope will fill you with joy “in believing” (Rom 15:13).

Faith changes your heart and abounds in hope. What do you know and believe about the Lord? Have you heard of his goodness, beauty, riches, grace, love, wisdom, peace, faithfulness? Acknowledge every good thing in you in Christ (Phm 6).

Feed your faith, and then you will rejoice in the Lord. Do this again, and again, and again, rejoice.

In the Lord,

Justin “song in my heart” Johnson

Full List of Email Tips
This was originally published in the weekly Grace Ambassadors email sent free to subscribers.