Be Joyful Always

Be Joyful Always "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice." Philippians 4:4 The Book of Philippians, which is a New Testament letter written to the church of Philippi, is a letter of praise and joy to God. The apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was a prisoner in Rome awaiting trial. Despite his dire circumstances, Paul's joy and strength showed through this entire chapter, as he tells us to be joyful always, even during our tough times. How would you describe your life today? Is it anxious, weary, bitter, busy, angry, unforgiving or is it joyful? I am afraid that most of you would say that it is not joyful, but your life should be joyful. The reason your life is not joyful, is because of what I will call "joy robbers". These "joy robbers" come in the form of you spending too much time working to meet your financial obligations, battling traffic, stress in your marriage, problems in discipline with your children, relationships in your job or school, and a multitude of other situations that rob you of your joy. These "joy robbers" can rob you of the joy of life that God intended for you. God wants your life to be joyful, as only then will you be able to worship Him to the fullest extent possible, and be the witness for Him with the world. God wants you to represent Him as being the light to the world, instead of being a dark, gloomy and dreary God. If you are happy, at peace with your life, and have a spirit of joy about you, others see this joy radiating from you. Paul had the secret to being joyful, as he had discovered the peace and joy that only God can bring. He had discovered that even when the "joy robbers" came, that the love and presence of Christ, carried him through these trials. If you are facing "joy robbers' in your life, release them, and you too will have victory and a joy filled, Christ centered life. My Daily Devotional Volume Six January 14, 2013 Robert William Brock, Jr.