Joy as Spiritual Warfare

Earlier this week we looked at Philippians 4:4—Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say rejoice.

Today let’s look at Philippians 3:1—Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Paul is reminding them again to rejoice in the Lord. He said that rejoicing is a safeguard. How do you think rejoicing could keep you safe?

One reason is because when we are not rejoicing, we are probably living in the pits… discouraged. At those times we are most vulnerable to the enemy attacking us. When we choose to rejoice in the Lord, we are choosing to take our focus off our problems (which is where the enemy wants us to focus.) And we are choosing to put our focus on the Lord—how great He is and what He has done in our lives.

We need to choose to rejoice in the Lord, regardless of what is happening in our lives. Choosing to rejoice can protect us from the enemy.

Sometimes we think we don’t have any reason to rejoice. That may seem true (at least the enemy wants us to believe that!) However, first, it tells us to rejoice in the Lord. It doesn’t say rejoice in your circumstances.

Second, look at where Paul was when he was writing this book. He was in prison. And not a prison like we have in the United States with a nice soft bed, three great meals a day (well, maybe not great, but at least they are three meals), big screen TVs, etc. I’m not sure what his prison was like, but over and over in Philippians, Paul talks about being in chains. Imagine sitting it a dark, musty prison cell in chains. Yet Paul is filled with joy as he writes to the Philippians. If anyone had a reason to be down in the dumps, Paul did, but he chose to rejoice in the Lord.

Paul was imitating Jesus, just as we are to do. One of Jesus’ stress management techniques was choosing joy.

What do you need to do today to rejoice in the Lord? Don’t wait until later. Joy is a choice we each need to make every single day.

Blessings on you,

Gaylyn Williams, co-author of The Door to Joy