I just got off the phone with my friend Dr. Ryan Whitley of CrossPoint Church in Argo, Alabama. He told me that today he decided to take a “Journey of Rejoicing.” He desicribes this as throughout a day quoting to himself as many passages about rejoicing as possible. In all my years of Christian experience I had never heard or considered a “Day of Rejoicing.”
So I’ve decided to go on a journey… for more than a day… I think I’m going to try (try mind you) a week of rejoicing. Especially since yesterday was Resurrection Sunday! I suggest you take a text… write it down on a card… and say it to yourself over and over for an entire day. Then pick another one and do the same thing. Then do it every day for a week. And see if your heart isn’t lifted as the Spirit burys these texts into your soul!
Here are some texts for consideration if you would like to take a Journey of Rejoicing…
Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 40:16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Psalm 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…
Luke 10:20 Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always…
1 Peter 1:8 Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This reminds me of a program I saw on TV. A pastor initiated a Do Not Complain program for the church. Each member got a purple band with something like “Do Not Complain” imprinted on it. Whenever they complained they must transfer it from one arm to the other. (I guess this served as a physical reminder). The goal was to go 21 days without complaining. If you did not make it to 21, you had to start over at 1. The premise behind this was – your mouth is the retailer and your brain is the manufacturer. If the mouth doesn’t sell it, the brain will stop producing it.
If we are rejoicing, we can’t be complaining.
Mary Beth,
That sounds like a great idea! Maybe next time you see me I’ll have a wrist band of some kind on to help not only not to complain… but to rejoice!
Thanks!
Ron
Ron, a Journey of Rejoicing is a great adventure isn’t it? I, too, am making this a week long experiment. My mentor Harry Lucenay often reminded me that many people are out to kill our joy, and we must remember our joy is in the strength of the Lord. If you consder THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH, then we should always walk in joy, supreme joy. Ron, thank you for your ministry and example.