Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
We’ve asked ourselves a lot of serious, contemplative questions this week as we are processing the year that’s almost behind us.
Today, we end on a lighter note. Ask yourself: When did I find myself smiling the most this past year?
Sometimes Christian life can feel quite serious; after all, we serve a Holy God, and we desire to become more like Jesus in all that we do. We pray, meditate, study the Bible and spend time serving God. However, it is important to remember that a life with God is also meant to be enjoyable and filled with celebration.
Joy, rejoicing, and laughter are recurring themes in the Bible, and scripture repeatedly encourages us to rejoice:
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Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. – Philippians 4:4 ESV
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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:12
Take a moment to look back on some happy memories and think about the times you smiled! You could even look through your photo roll for some reminders of what made you smile.
Rejoice in those moments. Share them with Jesus in prayer. I bet you that He was smiling in those moments, too! End with gratitude – thank God for blessing you with such precious and happy memories.
