Your Prescription for Joy

According to reports, anxiety is an epidemic in the United States. Americans suffer in proportion to population more than any other country on earth. Anxiety affects 40 million Americans, and 3 of the top 10 drugs used are for mental illness

The Bible is a medicine chest of antidepressant verses and tranquillizing passages. Philippians 4:4 says, “REJOICE in the LORD always: and again I say, Rejoice. Maybe you’re thinking, “You cannot tell someone to be happy. You cannot command joy”. Why not? Why can’t we choose our attitudes? We make ourselves smile, and that very act of smiling lifts our spirits and makes it easier for us to pull ourselves out of discouragement, but notice this is a qualified statement. It tells us to rejoice in the Lord.

We may not be able to rejoice in our load, but we can rejoice in our Lord. We may not see the joy in our situation, but we can rejoice in our Savoir. To rejoice in the Lord means we rejoice in our unchanging relationship with Him and in His qualities, gifts, promises, and attributes.

Philippians 4:4-9, gives a prescription for JOY to overcome worry and find peace.

·      Rejoice in the Lord.  v4

·      Be gracious with others. v5

·      Remind yourself of Gods nearness. v5b

·      Cast out worry. v6

·      Pray with Thanksgiving. v6b

·      Focus your mind on what is Excellent and Praiseworthy. vv8-9

Two promises are connected here, the peace of God will guard your heart and the God of peace will be with you.