Rejoice Always- In the Lord.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Who doesn't want to rejoice? Seriously. Who doesn't like rejoicing? Rejoicing is by definition- being happy and making others happy. There is a commonly known song with the lyrics-  'Don't worry, be happy.'  We long for happiness and we enjoy it's arrival and mourn its departure which can happen in a split second. Being unhappy is very commonplace. There aren't too many people today who aren't familiar with depression, unhappiness, with joylessness. You can be content without being happy, yes? Very few people are happy all the time, and we often suspect those who seem to be happy all the time as being on drugs, or if not drugs then faking that happiness. Sometimes when we let ourselves believe a person can be happy by nature, and it's a true state of their being- we get envious wondering why we can't live in such a state.  We do worry, we aren't happy. Yet there isn't a commonly known song with a catchy tune telling us to … 'worry, be unhappy'.  Why isn't there such a song, because the goal in life isn't to be unhappy and filled with worry.  The IDEAL is to be happy and free of worry.

I do have to add though- there are some people who do enjoy- who are literally happy- being unhappy, though how are we to determine such a thing- those very people would be shocked to think we think that of them, shocked and hurt by us. We can't rightly accuse them of that and if we do, we risk offending them. Anyway, does it matter if they are that way - happy being unhappy? Happy being in a state of chaos? Happy in constant worry?  We are told to be that way aren't we?  I suppose the difference in being happy WHEN chaos happens, when worries come our way, is that we don't manufacture chaos and worries to be happy- we are happy in spite of those things appearing in our lives. Of course, maybe it's all a delusion we are under, and those people truly are just living a life of unhappiness through circumstances not of their own creation. 

Bottom line- no matter who we are, no matter what our situation, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior we are to--

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Worry about NOTHING. We are NOT to worry, not to get ourselves in a state of upset about anything.  How is that possible? It certainly isn't possible in my experience. I'm a known worrier, and my husband would tell you most of my worry is needless, senseless and incomprehensible to him. My husband is known as NOT being a worrier. I'd love to report that his not worrying was a result of his belief of God and his praying and supplication, but it's not.

So why is it I worry and He doesn't?  I'm going to go with genetics and upbringing to some degree, and hold true to that because we are all created and raised with differences that make us who we are. That non-worrying comes at a price for my husband, because it goes hand in hand with a lack of empathy, a lack of emotion. No, he is NOT emotionless, not by a long shot, but he is wired differently than a lot of people when it comes to emotions. I'm not going into details, but suffice it to say whether a person is overly emotional or under emotional both have their flaws and we truly do need moderation in all things of our lives through Christ Jesus.

I need to worry less and trust more. I need to put my joy in heavenly things, not earthly. I need to live for eternity not for the temporary. And I need to live for Christ in all I do. I need to thank him always and pray always.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Truly I need the PEACE of God which PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, keeping my mind and heart through Christ Jesus.

And I need to remember always that it will PASS UNDERSTANDING. I can't seek to understand that peace, I just need to know it exists! I need to know that if my faith is put wholly in Jesus then I am offered that God sent peace.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Don't worry.

In EVERYTHING.

Prayer.

Supplication.

Thanksgiving.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 

WHATEVER IS-

True.

Honest.

Just.

Pure.

Lovely.

Good Report.

Virtue.

Praise.

THINK ON THESE THINGS.

We are NOT to think on-

Lies.

Dishonesty.

Injustice.

Impure.

Ugly.

Bad Report.

Unvirtuous.

Unpraiseworthy.

When I say my thoughts are bad what springs to mind? That I'm not thinking of good things, right? I'm dwelling on things that I shouldn't be. Worrying is dwelling on things that aren't good. Is it any wonder we are to think on GOOD things?

Maybe we have to practice thinking good every time we find ourselves caught up in the bad thinking, in worrying.

By the grace and mercy of God may this be possible all through Him.

May we rejoice always.