rejoice

I tell you to rejoice. Do you find this easier when things go well for you than when you face difficulties? Yet my commandment applies in both cases. Do not think of your rejoicing as a product of your circumstances. Neither is it a denial of reality. Rejoice as a deliberate action rather than letting your state of mind be a reaction to events surrounding you. This way you maintain liberty and victory within and avoid bitterness. Do you believe that all things work together for good for those who love and obey me? Your rejoicing regardless of your current circumstances is a testimony of your faith and an acknowledgment of my ultimate goodness.