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Not long ago it dawned on me, due to sharing with a friend,it dawned on me that I ought to rejoice more. Life isn't really full of good fortune and the like. But there are good things. I have a home, I am safe, I live in a nice area. And I have friends I would not have had years ago because of the nonexistance of the internet. There is quite a lot there to rejoice about, instead of thinking of those things that are not going well. So it seems more fitting to rejoice rather then to complain about my lack of good fortune and other good things many luckier people take for granted. Those things ought not be my way of defining ME. My definition of ME ought to be more about my character and my desire to act with integrity. My desire to not be hypocritical intentionally. I should be rejoicing about these things rather then have all those comforts so many people have. Many of those luckier people are still grumbling because they feel they ought to be luckier still. Rejoice in all situations is the command given to Christians. And finally I see the sense in rejoicing rather then griping and complaining. Rejoicing does bring a certain happiness not achieved any other way. It is my goal to rejoice more.

Hello DicipleofJesus,

Sounds like The Holy Spirit has been nudging your soul with God's Word.

Colossians 2:6-7King James Version (KJV)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

An attitude of gratitude makes for a sweeter day. Have a good one.

Thanks for sharing, DicipleofJesus.

God bless you,
Mack

DicipleofJesus wrote:Not long ago it dawned on me, due to sharing with a friend,it dawned on me that I ought to rejoice more. Life isn't really full of good fortune and the like. But there are good things. I have a home, I am safe, I live in a nice area. And I have friends I would not have had years ago because of the nonexistance of the internet. There is quite a lot there to rejoice about, instead of thinking of those things that are not going well. So it seems more fitting to rejoice rather then to complain about my lack of good fortune and other good things many luckier people take for granted. Those things ought not be my way of defining ME. My definition of ME ought to be more about my character and my desire to act with integrity. My desire to not be hypocritical intentionally. I should be rejoicing about these things rather then have all those comforts so many people have. Many of those luckier people are still grumbling because they feel they ought to be luckier still. Rejoice in all situations is the command given to Christians. And finally I see the sense in rejoicing rather then griping and complaining. Rejoicing does bring a certain happiness not achieved any other way. It is my goal to rejoice more.

Hi DOJ - You're directly in the best place in desiring to "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phl 4:4), and it is evidence of maturing in Christ when we come to the realization that regardless of the circumstances we can know we have an eternal relationship with God, which should always be our primary sufficiency in being encouraged.

I've found that God uses the earthly needs to teach believers to be more mindful of our spiritual needs, and we can know that both will always be provided, but we must understand they will come in the way of lessons for faith-strengthening in trusting Him at His Word (Rom 8:28).

I've also come to understand to accept all that occurs in my life is directed by God for my good and His glory, thus we can endure our times of hardness in these earthly trials knowing all is pre-planned for our good, without fail, to strengthen our faith by being patient in the hardness and humble in pridefulness.

Good post and God bless!