“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
What if I were to tell you that the word “rejoice” is written in the imperative? God commands us to rejoice.
Isn’t that interesting? I would never associate rejoicing with a command. “I demand you be joyful!” Hmmm. That doesn’t quite seem right.
Rejoicing…isn’t that a feeling? Isn’t rejoicing something we feel when things are going great? How are we supposed to control our feelings? Feelings are a reaction to something.
Not the way God is using this term. Rejoicing is a choice. You choose joy. If it weren’t the case, God would not command us to do so.
You see, “This is the day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Every day, every moment is a gift from God. Recognizing this, Christians rejoice. We choose joy.
Why? Because God created this day. God gifted us with this day.
Every day, every moment is a gift. Rejoice! Be glad in it.
Praxis: Faith in Action 