Joy is natural for the Christian and comes through praising and thanking God in every circumstance.

1. We are to ___________ in the Lord always. 2. We must not be __________ about anything. 3. When we pray with thanksgiving, what can we expect to guard our hearts and minds? Philippians 4:4-7 Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

2 Chronicles 20 : Chronicles 20 : “21 After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army, singing: “Praise the Lord! His love is eternal!” 22 When they began to sing, the Lord threw the invading armies into a panic. ” (GNB) Who was appointed to lead the tribe of Judah into battle?

2. Nehemiah 8:10 2. Nehemiah 8:10 “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”(NIV) What does Nehemiah say about our joy in relation to our walk with God?

3. James 1 : James 1 : Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. How are we supposed to respond to trials? Why?

4. 1 Peter 1 : “ 4. 1 Peter 1 : “6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” What is the purpose of trials?

5. Psalm 50 : Psalm 50 : 23 “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”(NIV) To thank God is to ________Him.

6. Ephesians 5 : 20 “ 6. Ephesians 5 : 20 “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father.” (NIV) We are to give God thanks ________everything.

7. Jeremiah 29: 11 “ 7. Jeremiah 29: 11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(NIV) God’s plan for us are to ______ us, to give us _____.

8. Romans 5 : ‘ 8. Romans 5 : ‘3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us..”(NIV) When we rejoice in suffering, ________ is produced, which produces ________, which produces ________, which does not disappoint us.

Too often our focus is directed inward to self or outward to other people, instead of upward to God. When we look within ourselves, frustration and depression will follow. When we look to others, we will sooner or later be disappointed. But when we look upward to God, we cannot stay depressed or frustrated, we will never be disappointed! By praising God we obey Him (Psalm 100:4) and His power to live joyfully is released within us.

“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Why is praise and thanksgiving vital for Christians? What reasons do you have for praise and thanksgiving? Are God’s plans for us for good or for evil?