August 28: REJOICE EVERMORE!

“Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always).” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 – AMP)     “Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 – AMP)       1. Today I will live in the now! I will live in the now because the joy of the Lord is my strength, I have a song in my heart and a good report in my mouth. I am cheerful, positive, optimistic and full of faith for the future. I have too much to be happy about – too much to be thankfu for – to allow myself to succumb to a bad mood, much less a spirit of depression. Today is a great day to be alive . . . a great day to praisethe Lord . . . a great day for the Kingdom to come! Today is the day that the Lord has made and I will REJOICE and be glad in it!    2. Today I will remember that the sun is shining up above the clouds, even during the darkest thunderstorm. The sky is blue above the clouds every day. The weather is beautiful above the clouds every day. Today I will know where to look for the sunshine, and I will find it!   3. Today I will locate my joy and return to an internal place of happiness. It is written: “[The Lord God says,] And the redeemed of the Lord shall RETURN and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.'” (Isaiah 51:11 – AMP)   4. Today I will exercise dominion in the interior world by choosing to be happy regardless of outward circumstances. “. . . He who has a merry heart has a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15),  so I will set my own table and serve my own banquet, living the Kingdom life from the inside out. The joy of the Lord is my strength!   5. Today I will rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.   6. Today I will encourage myself in the Lord.   7. Today I will rejoice that my sins are forgiven and I am at peace with God. It is written: “The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will REJOICE over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction], and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 – AMP). I sing because I’m happy today, and today I will live in the now!

Father, sing for joy over me today. In Jesus’ name, amen.