Thoughts for the Day

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The diction defines the word "Rejoice" as to "give joy" or to "feel joy or great delight". For instance, 'The people rejoiced in giving the King the freedom of their city", or 'We all rejoiced in our friend's good luck'. This is all very well, but what does it mean to 'Rejoice in the Lord' as Philippians says? Here are a few suggestions:

• We should feel joy that God exists and that He loves us - from our conception to our death.
• We should feel joy that even though we sin, God will forgive us when we repent.
• We should feel joy that God sent His Son to be our Saviour to re-unite us to Himself.
• We should give joy to the Father by praising Him each day.

And the peace of God will be with us each day.

Heavenly Father,
we rejoice that You are God,
and we praise You this and every day.
We rejoice in Your power and might;
we rejoice in Your love and support;
we rejoice in Your Son, our Lord;
and we rejoice because of Your presence in our life.
Amen.