What does it mean to rejoice? The definition of rejoice is – to feel or show great joy or delight; exuberance, exaltation, glory, triumph, exult. The word “rejoice” is used 238 times in the Bible according to Gateway.com. David talked a great deal about joy and rejoicing because he knew there are wonderful Inspirational Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord.
One of the most well-known scriptures on rejoicing is found in Philippians 4:4 HCSB. It’s short and simple, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Why did Paul say this? Paul was inspiring and encouraging his friends! Here’s the context of that single verse:
So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
The Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord
Look at this list of encouraging and inspiring statements:
- You are my joy and my crown
- Stand firm, dear friends
- Agree in the Lord
- Help these women
- Your names are written in the book of Life
- Rejoice always – Rejoice in the Lord!
- Let your graciousness be known to everyone
- Don’t worry about anything
- Through prayer and petition let your requests be made known to god.
- The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus.
- Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, has moral excellence, and any praise – think on these things.
- If you do what you’ver learned, the God of peace will be with you.
This is an incredible list of inspiration, encouragement, imagination, and enthusiasm! Rejoice – feel or show great joy or delight, glory, triumph, and exult in Jesus! He alone is worthy so rejoice in the Lord.
Rejoice in the Lord
Rejoicing is one of those attitudes, emotions, and actions which help us to maintain a correct perspective. Joy and gratitude seem to accompany each other. Expressing gratitude to God elevates our being and brings joy as we remind ourselves of all He does for and in us. Feeling and showing great joy can also cause us to give thanks. Both of them put our focus on Jesus, our Savior.
Thanksgiving and rejoicing might seem like the same thing but they are slightly different. Thanksgiving is reciting all that God has done, will do, and is doing in our lives. Rejoicing is celebrating and shouting out the praises of God. We are to rejoice in the Lord and rejoice always!
Everyday life makes it easy to forget the benefits of rejoicing in the Lord because life carries many ups and downs with a lot of mundane in between. The trials of life can be difficult and even devastating. The joyful times are marvelous but we sometimes allow them to be stolen from us by the difficult times. But the practice of joy and gratitude is an antidote to prevent that. The inspirational benefits of rejoicing in the Lord include being reminded of all the good and not allowing the enemy, others, or trials to rob us of our ability to rejoice in the Lord.
Practice Rejoicing in the Lord
Yes – practice. We need to rejoice in the Lord no matter what our circumstances are. Have you heard this before? I’m sure you have. I also know that it can be very difficult to do when you’ve been hurt. Regardless, that’s still the best time to do it. No matter what our outward circumstances may be, we can rejoice. No matter what our emotions may be doing, we can rejoice. Because our mind and our emotions are closely connected, practicing rejoicing is even more important. What we are thinking can be changed just as our feelings can.
When you’re hurt by the words or actions of someone, your mind needs to be the first thing you control. You can do that by making your mouth speak words of rejoicing. You can change your own mind. The hurt feeling may take time to heal but healing can be sped up with the right medicine. It’s natural to have those feelings, and practice will make it natural to recover from them.
Search For All the Things to Rejoice For
How do you practice rejoicing? By just doing it. The definition of rejoicing says to feel or show great delight. While you may not feel like it, you can still show it. You’re not pretending to be something you’re not. Even if you feel angry, hurt, disappointed, discouraged, or just down, the truth is that you ARE a child of God and, as such, you can show it with your words. Repeat Philippians 4:4 or go to the Psalms.
Scriptures on Rejoicing
Romans 5:2-3 HCSB, We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
Isaiah 61:10 HCSB, I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Luke 10:20 HCSB, However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
1 Corinthians 13:6 HCSB, Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth.
2 Corinthians 7:13 HCSB, For this reason we have been comforted. In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you.
Philippians 1:18 HCSB, What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.
Colossians 1:24 HCSB, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church.
Rejoice in Trials and Triumphs
1 Peter 1:3-9 gives us a list of inspiring benefits of rejoicing in the Lord, “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Eight Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord
- First – we have been given new birth into a living hope.
- Second – we have an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, unfading, and kept in heaven,
- Third – we are protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed.
- Fourth – we rejoice in all of this even if we are currently struggling through some trials.
- Fifth – as we continue to rejoice through our trials, the genuineness of our faith results in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus.
- Sixth – we love Him even though we haven’t seen Him.
- Seventh – We believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.
- Eighth – we are receiving the goal of our faith – the salvation of our souls.
The Inspirational Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord
The Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord are many. Our mind is set is on the things above. Our emotions come into line with the peace of Christ. Our hearts are filled with joy. Healing waters are ushered into our soul as we open the door to joy and gratitude and close it to anger, resentment, and more.
The next time you hear – Rejoice in the Lord always – really think about it. Don’t just brush it off as a cliché. Practice rejoicing, particularly when you don’t feel like it. It is meant to be part of the normal Christian life.
Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I believe that the fruit work together – the increase in one will result in the increase of all. Re-joy! Re-joice in the Lord always. Find your joy over and over. As we rejoice, we realize where our true joy and peace come from and our lives are centered in Christ.
Try practicing it and see for yourself what the Benefits of Rejoicing in the Lord are!
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