Just want to encourage you by telling you about what happened to me.  For about seven weeks I was having computer crashes.  I had various computer technicians work on my computer.  They would tell me that they fixed this or that and it was O.K.   However, when I would try working on it again, it would begin crashing again.  I spent almost enough money to buy a new one trying to fix it.  Finally, I gave up and did spend the money to buy a new CPU.  During this time I was also facing difficult decisions concerning property which I own (a water well which supplies water to rent house had to be replaced with another well).  There were other decisions concerning properly dividing of inheritance.  There were major church frustrations which also took their toll.  Then I became extremely sick for about a week and a half, running a high fever even while taking medications to lower the fever.  After crying out to the Lord in prayer, I began to get some better, but was uncertain if I would be able to meet with a couple that were coming from out of state for a weeks worth of counseling.

    Then on Saturday morning I was to get up at 5:45 a.m. to meet with some men for prayer at my church.  I was still weak, sick, in some pain, and did not feel physically, mentally, or emotionally like doing so, but in did so anyway.  Only one other man showed up for prayer that morning.  I did not feel like praying!  I did not feel like being there!  I did not want to be there!

    However, that morning in desperation, I knew that I had to do something a bit new.  I had to rejoice in the Lord no matter how I felt.  I had to give God a sacrifice of praise and even SHOUT it out.  That morning I rechanneled all the frustration, disappointment, depression, and even some anger into praise.  You see, I had all these negative emotions bottled up on the inside, and  I needed to release these emotions in a positive sense.  Therefore, I shouted praise and sang songs unto the Lord.  It was great! I would encourage you to do it!  Redirect your negative thoughts and feelings that you have bottled up into praise, dancing, shouting, leaping, rejoicing in the Lord.  Find a place and scream it out if needed.  "God, I rejoice in you!  I praise you!  You are a good God!  You have declared in your Word that you are working all things together for my good; therefore, I expect you to do just that!  Praise the LORD!"

1. God tells us to rejoice.  "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.  Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm" (Psalm 98:4-5).    "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

2. We are to offer a sacrifice of praise (praise when it hurts).   "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

3. We are to rejoice in the LORD when things don't seem to be going good.  "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:   Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

4. We are to rejoice (throw a party) when we face various trials.  "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2).

5. We are to rejoice in order to receive our salvation.   "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3).

6. We are to rejoice knowing that God would work things together for my good in spite of the circumstances.   "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

7. We are to rejoice knowing that praise is like a sword in our hand to do spiritual warfare against the enemy that has come against me.  "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;   To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;    To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;    To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD"  (Psalm 149:6-9).

8. We are to rejoice ALWAYS ... all the time.   "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).   "Rejoice evermore" (I Thessalonians 5:16).

9.  We are to rejoice because this is the day that God has made.   "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

10.  We are to rejoice because He is king.   "With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King" (Psalm 98:6).

11. We are to put emotional expression into rejoicing.   "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice" (Psalm 68:3).  "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart" (Psalm 32:11).

12. We are to rejoice because it is appropriate to rejoice.  "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright" (Psalm 33:1).

13. We are to rejoice to get our prayers answered.   "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions" (Psalm 20:5).

14.  We are to rejoice because God reigns.  "Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth" (I Chronicles 16:31).

15. We are to rejoice in the Lord for what He is yet to do.   "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things" (Joel 2:21).

16. We are to rejoice in the Lord for he is our salvation.   "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:18).

17.  We are to rejoice because the Gospel is being carried into the world.  "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).   "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:6).

18. We are to rejoice when we are persecuted for righteousness sake. "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets" (Luke 6:33)

19.  We are to shout for joy because God defends us.   "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee" (Psalm 5:11).

20.  We are to rejoice because joy overcomes mourning.   "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3).

21. We are to rejoice because the joy of the Lord is our strength. "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

22.  We are to rejoice because God has provided everything we need.   "And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine" (Luke 15:31).

23.  We are to rejoice because rejoicing may bring health to our bones.   "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Proverbs 17:22).

24. We are to rejoice in that we take part in the suffering of Christ.  "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (I Peter 4:13).

1. Singing unto the Lord. "Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." (Psalm 47:6).  "And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets" (I Chronicles 13:8).

2. Attending a church worship service. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD"  (Psalm 122:1).

3. Standing before the Lord.   "Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant."
(Psalm 135:2-3).

4. Speaking blessings unto the Lord. "Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD" (Psalms 134:1).

5. Clapping of hands in praise.  "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalms 47:1).  "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12 ).

6. Telling others about God's goodness.   "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost" (Luke 15:6).   "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" (Mark 5:19).

7. Throwing a party.   "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:    And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:    For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.    Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing"  (Luke 15:22-25).

8. Playing musical instruments unto God.  "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalms 150:3-6).

9. Shouting for joy.  "And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid" (Ezra 3:11).   "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee" (Psalms 5:11).

10. Dancing unto the Lord.   "And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances" (Exodus 15:20).   "And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod" (II Samuel 6:14).   "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp" (Psalms 149:3).

11. Lifting up of hands in worship.  "And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground" (Nehemiah 8:6).   "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD" (Psalms 134:2).    "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." (Psalms 143:6).

12. Singing in the Spirit.   "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD" (Psalms 40:3).   "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (I Corinthians 14:15).