Rejoice

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (NASB)

John 10:28-29 – I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. (MSG)

I am told that when my older sister started school, she would sit down and teach me the alphabet, how to print, and how to sound the letters. She also taught me the notes on the piano when she started taking piano lessons. She was a very good teacher. I have no recollection of this at all. I have wondered why I don't remember these things. Neither do I remember some of the hard times that I have heard about that we went through as a family. Where has my memory gone?

The things I do remember are mostly from when I was ten. That is the year that I accepted the Lord. That is the year that I started piano lessons. That is the year that we moved into our new house that Dad built. These, as well as my sister teaching me so many things, are all good things to remember.

All this makes me very conscious that I should obey today's Scripture, to rejoice in the Lord always. The command to rejoice is repeated twice in one verse. I see that as God emphasizing the importance of rejoicing. I think I need to rejoice that I don't remember the hard times.

God wants us to rejoice in Him, not in the circumstances of our lives. He is always with us to lead and guide us.

Hebrews 13:5 – I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. (NASB)

Prayer: Lord, for some reason we don't remember all the things that have happened in our lives. We know that You have given us real and eternal life. Thank You that You protect us and no one can steal us from Your hands. Help us to keep our eyes on You and to rejoice in You — during the good times as well as the bad — during the times we remember and the times we forget. Thank You. Amen.