1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice evermore.
*Strong's No 5463
REJOICE: to delight in God's grace; to experience God's grace (favor); to be consciously glad of God's grace
One cannot unconsciously rejoice, nor can a person subconsciously rejoice in God's grace. We must be cognate, aware, of God's grace. For we cannot obtain what we cannot even be aware of.
It is why so many die in their sins. If they are not aware they are sinners, then they cannot be saved; especially after death. We must realize in this life we are given that not only God Is, but that God Is Savior. That He is Savior through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, through the blood which Christ shed on the cross, which takes away the sins of the world: John 1:29 "The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."
Realization of this as fact must come through an awareness of wrongdoing, which is followed by repentance (a confession of and turning away from sins). Then our hearts are filled with God's grace and we begin to live a disciplined, godly lifestyle.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 94:19
In the multitude of my thoughts within me (anxieties, cares) Your comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 104:34
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Always. Evermore. At all times. Regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we are to rejoice in the Lord. Our joy must begin in God and be fulfilled by God. Without a relationship with God there can be no joy, no reason to rejoice. But in God, in His name, in His character, in His power we can have joy. It helps us to think on God's Word, thereby getting into our thoughts. It helps us to read God's Word, getting it into our hearts. We must believe God's Word is Faithful & True, that the Holy Spirit may be able to bring it to our lips to speak God's Word God's Power with God's Love.
2 Corinthians 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
We will know sorrow, pain and grief in this life. We will suffer for our faith. Some of us will die for what we believe. Yet, we are rejoicing. Joy is not an opposite of sorrow, it complements it. When we know what we know what we know, we can truly Rejoice! in the Lord for we are confident that He will keep His promises. For God cannot lie.
As Job has said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain (prove) mine own ways before Him." (Job 13:15)
We are confident that our testimony, our faith in our Redeemer, Who has purchased us with His own blood, will stand as our witness when we are judged by God.
If you have not this confidence, there is still time. Even now, your heart tells you that what I speak of God's Word is True. Even now, the Holy Spirit convicts your hearts and you feel a pinch in your spirit. May you surrender your hearts and your lives to Jesus Christ as the Word flows over you, may it also enter you.
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