Philippians 4:4 –
“Rejoice in the Lord always.”
The Apostle Paul knew the difficulties and disappointments that come in ministry. He experienced hardships in life. Yet, he exhorts us to rejoice ALWAYS. The secret?
Rejoice in the Lord
— not in what you are doing.
If your source of joy is in your accomplishments, what happens to your joy when you are hindered from reaching your goals?
We lose our joy when we become anxious about what we are doing rather than trusting God.
Rejoice in the Lord
— not in the conditions around you.
If the conditions in which you serve, or live, are less than ideal, what happens to your joy?
We lose our joy when keep our eyes on this world rather than what is to come.
Rejoice in the Lord
— not in what you have.
If you were to lose what is most precious to you, how would that affect your joy?
We lose our joy when we focus on what we have or do not have rather than who we are in Him.
Rejoice in the Lord
— not in ministry success.
If your ministry efforts, whatever they may be, did not go well, how would it affect your joy?
We lose our joy when we let it become about what we do rather than what He does.
Rejoice in the Lord
— not in people’s opinions of you.
If you didn’t like people’s responses to what we say or do, how much would it affect your joy?
We lose our joy when we are controlled by the expectations of others rather than seeking God’s glory.
When we try to find joy in anything other than in the Lord, we may find ourselves rather joyless at times. Ministry can be disappointing. Life can be hard. The Lord, however, remains faithful and true. He loves us no matter what. He is always good. When we find our joy in Him, we can rejoice always.
Philippians 4:4 -
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
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Thank you for help in writing a message on the importance of joy in ministering!
You are welcome. Yes, joy is very important in ministry for when we find joy “in the Lord” we can face even the most difficult circumstances. I think of the Apostle Paul who wrote the words in this post – “rejoice in the Lord always.” He experienced many hardships in ministry yet was able to write how he was “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:4-10). Paul knew both the highs and lows of ministry and maintained joy through it all, even when he was grieving, because he rejoiced “in the Lord.”