Rejoice! – Deuteronomy 12:18c

And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all your undertakings.

Rejoice!  With all that is within you, rejoice!  In response to the awesome power and infinite love of God, rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord, in His majesty, in His splendor.  Rejoice in the One who prepared the light and sun and who made the seasons, in the One who created the seas and the dry land.[1]  Rejoice in His unfathomable mercy, which led us to Jesus Christ, our hope, the One who restored us to the Father and who gave us eternal life.[2]

Lift up your voice in adoration.  Fall on your knees in worship, and rejoice in God’s loving-kindness to you, in His nearness to you.[3]  With a glad heart, magnify the Lord, our helper, and our deliverer,[4] and praise Him for His unfailing protection.  Give thanks that He, who knows your needs, is always upholding your cause.[5]  Sing in exaltation at His beauty.  Leap for joy in anticipation of His plan for you, a plan to smooth the road upon which you walk, to carry you over the hard and rough places, to set you upon a roadway, which leads toward heaven.[6]

Rejoice always, in your work and in your play, for the Lord is doing wondrous things for you.  Rejoice as you rise in the morning, as you walk through your day, and as you go to bed at night.  Have praise for the Lord always on your lips and in your thoughts.  Rejoice in Him today, tomorrow, and forever, taking delight in His promises and in knowing He is beside you, before you, and behind you.  Be jubilant, and sing hallelujah, giving glory to the Lord God Almighty, who reigns in victory and power over creation.[7]  Lift your voice in highest praise to the Lord for by His righteousness, we, who exalt Him, have been exalted.[8]

In summer and winter, autumn and spring, rejoice.  Are your skies blue?  Rejoice!  Are your days dark and your nights black?  Rejoice!  Set your eyes on your hope and your joy, Jesus Christ, and allow Him to reassure you that all is well and that He will make all things right in His time.  Rejoice in trials as in triumph, for as you share in Jesus’ suffering, you will likewise delight in His glory.[9]  Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice![10]

The heavens speak in glory’s voice

 “The Lord is born; let us rejoice”

“The Savior’s come,” the stars proclaim

Joy’s symphony makes known His name

Thunder rings and angels sing

“Jesus Christ is born the King.”

The earth and oceans praise as one

The jubilation has begun

The heart of man picks up the song

That teaches him he can belong

To the choir of Royalty

And come to know His Majesty

And one who lifts his eyes to see

Knows instantly that he is free

In gladness, he joins with his voice

As heaven sings, “Let us rejoice”

[1] Psalm 74:16-17

[2] 1 Peter 1:3-6

[3] Psalm 32:10-11

[4] Psalm 40:16-17

[5] Psalm 31:7-8

[6] Isaiah 45:13

[7] Revelation 19:6-7

[8] Psalm 89:16

[9] 1 Peter 4:13

[10] Philippians 4:4