Rejoicing is the earthly manifestation of the Kingdom, making us carriers of joy wherever we go. When we discover how we are inextricably linked to joy, the pleasure and delight of God fills our lives and we learn to live every day under His smile.
Joy is one of the signs that we are processing life well in our relationship with God.
Allowing the Holy Spirit to develop our internal atmosphere of celebration is vital for our growth. We are His beloved and therefore, we have no good reason to not celebrate.
When crises and problems arise in our life, it’s another opportunity to partner with joy and let our thanksgiving arise. Anyone can rejoice when life is going well but maturity is defined by the quality of our celebration in oppositional circumstances.
Rejoicing is designed to give us an experience of God’s joy especially during those times of difficulty.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to,
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
When we rejoice, our ability to pray increases dramatically because our prayer is covered in celebration, which makes everything possible, open, and available to us. Joy and rejoicing are rooted in both God’s presence and His persona, as in who He is and how He is known in heaven.
Rejoicing is engagement because it’s the place where we choose to betroth ourselves to God’s persona and tell Him,
“I so want to be like You, the happiest person I know! Nothing bothers You! Nothing gets to You. You live in a place above all circumstances, situations, and problems.”
These acts of rejoicing can lift us above any circumstance and place us in the life of Christ. From there, we no longer have to come under their weight and can live in the reality of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:30,
“My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The will of God is always tied into His nature because His avowed intention is to absolutely make us like Him.
Therefore, no matter what is occurring in our lives, the opportunity to become like God is always instantly, immediately and constantly available to us through choosing to practice thanksgiving and rejoicing. It doesn’t matter the situation because the ability to become like Jesus is always open to us.
Sometimes the situations around our lives are actually dictating who God wants to be for us and who we can actually be in Him. When we adopt this way of thinking, all things are possible for us because we have the opportunity to engage with the circumstances from a place of rejoicing and experience His presence.
Rejoicing is where we match God’s purpose and intention with our own by saying “yes” and “amen” to who God is and who He wants to be for us.
Take some time to simply turn and yield your heart to Him. Tell Him what you are currently thankful for and then carry on the conversation by celebrating who He is for you and who you are becoming in Him.
Enjoy the delight that comes from rejoicing!
