Rejoice

Phil 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice Feel or show great joy or delight in the greek definition it also means to thrive

Rejoicing is sometimes easier then others.  We could be rejoicing in the Lord and then all of a sudden there is something that comes along and takes the wind out of our sails.  Maybe we have gotten bad news that someone we love is dying.  It could be anything.  Maybe you are discouraged with how your children are behaving.  It could be a wide variety of reasons you dont want to rejoice.  However this verse tells us REJOICE.  

THis verse says rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.  That means never stop! Rejoice in Him no matter what! 
Someone may be thinking, but you dont know what I am going through. You are right I dont know, but it doesnt change this verse.  It is saying rejoice in spite of our circumstances.  

Let your gentleness be evident to all
This is really saying do not let your emotions get the best of you.  How many times have I snapped at someone because i am feeling anxious about a situation in my life?  Countless! Lord Help me to be gentle in all things and in all times.  Help me to be this example for my Children.  I want my children to know a gentle mother not a harsh one.  I want my husband to know a loving wife that has faith in Jesus and me mood isnt determined by what is going on around me.  I do not want my emotions to control my attitude and mood...

This verse goes on to tell me WHY to rejoice and be gentle.. Because no matter what I am going through the LORD IS NEAR.  He hasnt forgotten me.  He does care about the little things in my life as well as the big.  He has not given up on me.  I have his promise that HE IS NEAR ME!!  HE IS WITH ME..  How many times do we feel alone in certain situations? How many times do we feel alone with so many people around us?  We are NOT alone... He is with us.. He is with me! ALWAYS!

This next part is always hard for me.  DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING!!! 
Holy Cow .. THis is hard for me..  I have mentioned in previous posts how I can WORRY!  If I am anxious about something I am not trusting the Lord.  That means I am calling Him a liar.  I am saying "Lord I know what your word says, but I am going to worry."  I am not believing He will do what He said He will do.  I am calling him a Liar.. 

My need to worry does NOT come from a past situation where the Lord let me down.  In fact it is the opposite.  He has NEVER let me down.  So why do I worry when HE SAYS DONT WORRY I GOT THIS..

It is probably my need to feel in control.  That goes against everything with the Lord.  I have to give HIM control and resist my sinful nature to control everything..  UGG when will I get this right?!  Well the Lord knew I needed to hear this a lot, because it is in the Bible time and time again.  

If you think about it what does worry really do?  NOTHING just makes you worry more... Instead I am to praying about it to the Lord.  

Sometimes in times past I have felt bad about bring my wants (petition) before the Lord.  I would feel like Lord I am always asking you for things.. I should ask all the time.. Well this verse says I need to pray and bring my petition before the Lord.  He also says in this verse they are requests.  THis means He may not do it the way I want.  Sometimes the answer is NO or WAIT.. Oh I hate that.. 

I am apart of the microwave generation.  I want answers NOW.  Just tell me yes or no please.  However, if I know all the answers when I ask how is that teaching me not to worry?  How is that teaching me to TRUST in the LORD.  It isn't.. So Wait I shall do.. 

Even when the answer is WAIT the LORD is still NEAR us He hasnt LEFT!!  SO I Will REJOICE!!! I HAVE TO.. This is what I was created to do!!!!  THis is where I find my purpose.. THis is where I find answers.. THis is where I find Jesus holding me up to rejoice when I cant stand anymore..  THis is where I find his PEACE!!!  Dont we all need a little more Peace.. I DO!!  ME ME ME! OVER HERE.. 

To get that PEACE I have to Give up somethings!!I have to give up worry.  I have to give up the need to control.  I have to give up the need to know every answer!  I have to learn to lean on HIM more.  I have to recognize I NEED JESUS.  In everything..

I was watching Big Brother 14 last night.. Brittney asked Janell Do you ever cry? She said no  She said if I have a bad emotion I change it.. 

This is what this verse is talking about.. If I have a bad emotion or if I have worry.  I have to change it.. The only way I can change those emotions is to REJOICE.

So that is why I want to REJOICE in the Lord always and again I say REJOICE!!