1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com. You're listening 3 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,030 Speaker 1: to Daily Devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stonge, and 4 00:00:18,050 --> 00:00:22,410 Speaker 1: today's devotion is inspired by Philippians chapter 4, verse 4, 5 00:00:22,410 --> 00:00:28,750 Speaker 1: which says, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, Rejoice. 6 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: If you asked most people what they want more than 7 00:00:33,979 --> 00:00:37,020 Speaker 1: anything in this world, many of them would probably tell 8 00:00:37,060 --> 00:00:41,330 Speaker 1: you they want to find happiness. On the surface, that 9 00:00:41,370 --> 00:00:44,769 Speaker 1: doesn't immediately sound like a bad thing. But the truth is, 10 00:00:45,270 --> 00:00:50,790 Speaker 1: happiness can be a very circumstantial and fleeting emotion. For 11 00:00:50,810 --> 00:00:53,770 Speaker 1: those who have genuine faith in Jesus Christ, we will 12 00:00:53,970 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: certainly experience happiness, but we'll also experience something different and deeper. 13 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: In Jesus, we find joy. We find contentment and delight 14 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:10,260 Speaker 1: in Him that is not dependent on our circumstances. In 15 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,660 Speaker 1: the midst of our darkest days, we can rejoice in Christ. 16 00:01:14,420 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: In the midst of our brightest days, we can rejoice 17 00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: in Christ. In fact, we're specifically told to do that 18 00:01:20,540 --> 00:01:26,150 Speaker 1: very thing. Why can we rejoice in Christ regardless of 19 00:01:26,230 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: our circumstances? Well, first of all, we can rejoice in 20 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:34,830 Speaker 1: Him because of His unchanging nature. We can also rejoice 21 00:01:34,890 --> 00:01:37,750 Speaker 1: in Him because His love for us is not based 22 00:01:37,870 --> 00:01:41,830 Speaker 1: on our ability to earn it or cultivate it. We 23 00:01:41,870 --> 00:01:44,709 Speaker 1: can rejoice in Him because He is present with us 24 00:01:44,770 --> 00:01:48,550 Speaker 1: in the midst of every life experience. We can rejoice 25 00:01:48,610 --> 00:01:51,340 Speaker 1: in Him because He holds our future in His hands, 26 00:01:51,860 --> 00:01:56,730 Speaker 1: and He has promised it will be glorious. There are 27 00:01:56,910 --> 00:01:59,250 Speaker 1: many things in this world that may test your faith 28 00:01:59,710 --> 00:02:05,130 Speaker 1: and even temporarily dampen your spirit. But regardless of your circumstances, 29 00:02:05,810 --> 00:02:15,020 Speaker 1: always remember to rejoice in Christ. Let's pray. Lord, we 30 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,500 Speaker 1: thank you for your word. And we thank you for 31 00:02:17,540 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: the privilege that it is to be able to look 32 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: at this portion of Scripture from the book of Philippians today. 33 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,459 Speaker 1: And Lord, we know that every day is different. Some 34 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: days seem rather happy and light, and other days really 35 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: weigh our hearts down. And some days we just feel 36 00:02:33,060 --> 00:02:35,780 Speaker 1: so busy that we don't have the opportunity, at least 37 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:40,090 Speaker 1: in our thinking, to appreciate the things around us. But 38 00:02:40,110 --> 00:02:41,790 Speaker 1: then we look at the portion of Scripture that we 39 00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:44,710 Speaker 1: just looked at, and it reminds us that we're to 40 00:02:44,790 --> 00:02:49,950 Speaker 1: rejoice in you always. And then the Apostle Paul emphasizes 41 00:02:49,990 --> 00:02:52,870 Speaker 1: that by saying it again. He reminds us to rejoice. 42 00:02:53,470 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: And Lord, we know that when we look at your word, 43 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:00,700 Speaker 1: you have certain things highlighted for us for emphasis. And Lord, 44 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,380 Speaker 1: it seems in this portion of scripture that that's exactly 45 00:03:03,460 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: what you're doing. You're telling us more than once to rejoice, 46 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: because that's not often something that we think about doing. 47 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: So often we become overly focused on our circumstances, and 48 00:03:16,460 --> 00:03:19,410 Speaker 1: we buy into the thinking that leads us to believe 49 00:03:19,470 --> 00:03:22,710 Speaker 1: that Our circumstances need to be perfect for us to 50 00:03:22,810 --> 00:03:26,780 Speaker 1: experience any sort of delight in this world. But Lord, 51 00:03:26,820 --> 00:03:29,380 Speaker 1: you tell us that we can rejoice in you. We 52 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: can have joy in you in every circumstance. Whatever is 53 00:03:33,820 --> 00:03:37,620 Speaker 1: going on in our day-to-day lives, we can rejoice in you. 54 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,090 Speaker 1: We're grateful for that. We're grateful that we don't need 55 00:03:41,110 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: to go through life chasing after temporary and circumstantial happiness. Lord, 56 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,300 Speaker 1: we're certainly grateful that you give us the opportunity to 57 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: experience happiness. It's a wonderful emotion. But joy is so 58 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,780 Speaker 1: much deeper. And we're grateful that our joy is anchored 59 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,460 Speaker 1: in you. So Lord, we pray that throughout the course 60 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: of today, you would remind us of this truth, that 61 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,180 Speaker 1: we would rejoice in you always, and that we would 62 00:04:09,220 --> 00:04:12,460 Speaker 1: remind others to do the same. Thank you again for 63 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: this reminder from your word. And we pray this all 64 00:04:15,620 --> 00:04:18,250 Speaker 1: in Jesus' name. Amen.