Devotionals by Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! - Philippians 4:4
We are to be “full of joy in the Lord” (Philippians 4:4). If we know how to do that, we won’t be depressed by our circumstances.
We are not told to rejoice about the tragedies of life, but we are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord when hard times come. He promises to comfort us when we are mistreated and to help us to bravely endure when we suffer. We will be able to survive our circumstances with his help because he has already survived his circumstances as the God-man, Jesus of Nazareth. In Christ we have available to us all the support of heaven.
We are to rejoice in our relationship with him always. That doesn’t mean just when the sun is shining; it means when it rains, hails, snows, and even if a tornado hits our life! Always means “always.”
Joy is the badge of the believer. Paul, writing from his prison cell, emphasized the inability of circumstances to stifle his enjoyment of the Lord. “Be full of joy,” he exhorted the beloved Philippian believers, “I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). When we can’t praise him for what he has allowed, we can thank him for who he is in the midst of what he has allowed! This does not mean that we do not mourn with those who mourn, but it does mean that we point discouraged people to Jesus—the source of joy.
For Further Study: Philippians 4:1-5
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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About Telling the Truth
About Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe was born in England and found Christ when she was 18 years old. She never looked back. Upon graduating from Cambridge University, she began working as a teacher by day and had a vigorous street ministry to the youths of Liverpool by night.
She met Stuart at a youth conference and they married in 1958. In the 50 years since, Jill has become a highly sought-after Bible teacher and author who travels around the world ministering to under-resourced churches and speaking at international seminars and conferences. Since 2000, she and Stuart, who was formerly senior pastor of Elmbrook Church for 30 years, have had the joy of equipping and encouraging believers across the globe in their roles as ministers-at-large for Elmbrook.
Jill has authored more than 40 books including devotionals, study guides, poetry and children's books. Her vivid, relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart. She serves as Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership, and served on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc., for over 20 years.
Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.
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