You may be suffering today. You may have an illness, your finances may be in trouble, or you may have a loved one who is overwhelmed by problems. Still, if you are a Christian, you can still rejoice on The Lord. This does not mean that your problems will go away, but it does mean that you can draw strength from Him to overcome those problems.
I want to suggest six practical ways to help you rejoice in the Lord today. There are many other ways, but we don’t have space for all of the ones in this article:
1.) Spend time with God’s people through your local church. Christian companions can encourage one another and turn to Christ. You can effectively serve others by using the spiritual gifts and abilities that God has given you. Plus, you don’t have to wait until Sunday to see your Christian brothers and sisters. Call someone and have a cup of coffee with them, or take them out for lunch or dinner. Go for a walk together. Rejoice in the Lord!
2.) Get outside and enjoy this world that God has created. Even though this world is fallen and under God’s curse because of sin, there is still much of His beauty. Let that beauty and greatness drive you to worship and praise the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look past the bad things in this world and enjoy the good. Rejoice in the Lord!
3.) When you’re in your car, plug in good Christian music or a sermon CD. Find a good Christian radio station and let your heart be blessed. You probably spend a lot of time in your car, so take advantage of that time.
4.) Celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. God gave these ordinances as a means of grace for his people. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper remind us of what Christ has done for us. So when your church administers these sacraments, be there and enjoy His grace. Rejoice in the Lord!
5.) Give others every chance you get. Give of your time and your resources. God is the Great Giver, and when you reflect that and selflessly give to others, you find yourself strangely blessed. Rejoice in the Lord!
6.) Write a scripture on a 3 by 5 card and put it in your pocket or purse. Look at that verse often throughout the day. You may not be able to carry your Bible everywhere, but you can keep a card like that and meditate on that verse. King David once said: “I have hidden your word in my heart, so as not to sin against you.” (KJV)
These six things are relatively easy to do, but the payoff will be wonderful. The joy of God is much deeper than a superficial feeling. Let His joy flood your soul today!
