But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God:
yea let them exceedingly rejoice. Psalm 68:3
…Oh, Rejoice in His presence. (TLB)
Therefore, will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy… Psalm 27:6
…Sacrifices of triumphant joy… (Rotherman Translation)
For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
Psalm 63:7
…you are my help and in the shadow of your wings I will shout for joy. (NAB)
I was recently reading one of Dr. Lester Sumrall’s books called, Pioneer of Faith. He gave this account of one of his personal visits with Smith Wigglesworth:
One day, I asked him, “Brother Wigglesworth, how is it that you look the same every time I come? How do you feel?” He bellowed at me and said, “I don’t ever ask Smith Wigglesworth how he feels!” I asked, “How do you get up in the morning?” He said “I jump out of bed! I dance before the Lord for at least ten to twelve minutes - high-speed dancing. I jump up and down in my room telling God how great He is, how glad I am to be associated with Him and to be His child.” After this he would take a cold shower, read the Bible for an hour, pray for an hour, then open his mail to see what God would have him do that day. He was an extremely remarkable man, totally sold out to God.
Wigglesworth was known as a man of great faith and power. The supernatural signs and miracles that happened in his life were outstanding. Maybe it seems unusual for a man like that to get up in the morning and dance, jump, and rejoice before God; and yet as we study the Bible we see some excessive rejoicing by David, Job, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, John, and the Apostle Paul. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice,” Philippians 4:4.
One day the Lord spoke to me so clearly and said “If you only knew what happens in the spirit when you rejoice, you would rejoice everyday.” When we rejoice, we are acting like God is our God; Jesus is Lord; the Holy Spirit lives in us; and we are in Christ Jesus - sons and daughters of God! Rejoicing is an act of faith. Remember the words of Paul in Acts 27:25, “…cheer up, for I believe God, that it shall be as He told me.” When we believe God, we cheer up!
The Apostle Peter said it this way, “…yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,” 1 Peter 1:8. Believing and rejoicing usher in the glory and goodness of God in your life. The Living Bible says, “…even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from Heaven itself.”
Though the fig tree does not blossom…the fields yield no food…no cattle in the stalls…YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD…The Lord God is my Strength…He makes me to walk and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (AMP)
Rejoicing will enable us to make progress in difficult times. JOY IS A SECRET OF FAITH AND ENDURANCE. James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy…when troubles come.” This must be why Job laughed at destruction and trouble (Job 5:22). Of course, some people may think you are crazy, but you have found the secret to survival and success.
Joy is connected to: God’s presence (Psalm 16:11); God’s strength (Neh. 8:10); God’s salvation (Isaiah 12:3); the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:52, Rom.14:17); the anointing – the oil of joy (Heb.1:9); God’s medicine (Prov. 17:22); God’s Word (Jeremiah 15:16, Psalm 119:162); prosperity (2 Cor. 9:6-19, Psalm 105:37-45). Look at all the blessings of God that are connected to joy. It seems that if Satan can steal our joy then he can damage a lot of other things in our lives.
Joy and rejoicing are choices we make daily. It is clear that God did not create us to be miserable. He created us in Christ to enjoy life and have dominion. Joy is laughing triumphantly. MAKE THE CHOICE TO REJOICE TODAY!
WORLD MISSIONS PARTNER
This month we want to send our book, The Secret Power of Joy and the 4CD set, Joy, The Serious Business of Heaven. We believe these materials will stir your joy. Thank you for your partnership with us. Together we are reaching the World with the Word of God. As you partner together with us, receive this blessing: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19)!
Trina and I want to extend a personal invitation to you, for our Supernatural Leadership Conference, March 10-13, 2026. There will be powerful prayer meetings, praise and worship, practical teaching and times of refreshing in the presence of God. Bring your friends and pastors bring your teams to be refreshed and equipped! Experience an increase of joy, vision, and the glory of God for 2026!
In Christ,
Mark and Trina Hankins