Week of Prayer - Joy - the Foundational Melody of the Kingdom of Godنموونە

CREATED FOR JOY

VERSES

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! (Philippians 4,4)

MEDITATION

«Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!» This almost euphoric double imperative is typical of Paul. He is not an apostle known to express himself cautiously or diplomatically. He wears his heart on his sleeve. His enthusiasm can seem downright aggressive. In fact, I find the radical demand with which he approaches the Philippians in this sentence to be hard on the edge of manipulation: «How can you command joy?» I ask Paul. «As if joy were possible at the push of a button, a matter of sheer will!»

I'd indignantly and emphatically reject his unworldly demands if Paul were an advocate for the gospel of prosperity or a «fabric softener» of faith. However, Paul is credible. He lives what he preaches – this makes me think: After a downright violent encounter with God outside Damascus, this man stakes everything on the one card: Jesus! He takes on arduous missionary trips, risks his life, and is repeatedly put in chains for his faith. How could he keep his joy in the Lord alive through all the deprivations, torture, and distress? He composes his letter to the church in Philippi – like so many of his letters – in prison. His situation is precarious; he must expect the death sentence. And if it were a letter of lament, of complaint – we wouldn’t hold it against him. But no: In none of his letters is joy as prominent as in Philippians. «What is your secret, Paul?» I’d like to ask.

I suspect that Paul was never again able to forget the unconditional acceptance that he had experienced in his encounter with Jesus. He had been thwarted in the midst of blind, religious zeal by God and taken into service. As «the worst of sinners,» Paul «was shown mercy» (1 Tim 1,15). God has turned towards him. On this ground, Paul stands. He has repeatedly experienced that Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light – even in situations where life is an imposition from a human point of view. An old hymn says: «Jesus has come, eternal joy’s reason.» This lasting joy in the Lord has the power to assert oneself against opposition of all kinds – then in the life of the apostle and also today in my journey with Jesus.

REFLECTION

· What can I rejoice in? What can I be amazed about? What am I grateful to God for?

· Do I allow myself moments of joy? Is it easy for me to bring myself and others joy?

· Do I allow myself to be authentic before God and give myself to him – not only with pleasant feelings like joy, but also with my grief, fear, shame, and disappointment?

PRAYER TOPICS

· For those people around me who are struggling with their life and with God at the moment.

· For a new revival of my own joy in the Gospel and for the courage to bear witness to it in the world.

· For mindfulness so that I can discover God’s presence and proximity in my daily life.

· For creativity and dedication to «let my gentleness be evident» to other people (Phil 4,5) and bring them joy.

SUGGESTED PRAYER

Good Lord – thank You for challenging and encouraging me with people like Paul. Thank You for constantly trying to gain my trust. Never forget that I can come to You with everything that moves and bothers me. Thank You for seeing me and accepting me in love. Thank You that nothing is more reliable than Your proximity. Awaken joy in me through Your good Spirit. May Your peace, which is higher than all reason, protect my heart and my thoughts. Amen.

Andrea Signer-Plüss

Specialist psychologist for psychotherapy FSP (federation of Swiss psychologists) and employee in the Vereinigte Bibelgruppen VBG (unitedbible groups)