Rejoice in the Lord

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D. Leading the Way

“May the people praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you,” the psalmist lauds in Psalm 67:3. Right now in heaven, there is a constant stream of praise sounding as angels and Christians who have gone before us into God’s presence worship Him, extolling His character, love, grace, and majesty. While we cannot yet fully experience the joy of being with Christ in the heavens, we can still participate in this victorious adoration now by praising Him on earth.

 

For, God is especially present in the praises of His people. As you praise the Lord, your mind focuses on Him, uniting your heart to His and changing the atmosphere of your soul. And when your mind, heart, and soul are aligned with His, you are ready to turn any situation over to the Him—including any personal area of struggle. Through praise, God uplifts you and empowers you to overcome all things as you trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.

 

When we are tempted to sin, the spiritual realm can become misty, foggy, unreal. We may begin to think the physical world we see is the only reality. But the Truth of the Scripture is this: What we call “the real world,” this fallen, tangible world, is not the ultimate reality. What is ultimately real is the invisible, spiritual realm. And when you set your mind to rejoice in the Lord, you enter this heavenly reality—you remember you are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms even now (see Ephesians 2:6).

 

This is why we must rejoice in the Lord to see breakthrough in our lives and experience freedom from bondage. We must rejoice that our God is El Shaddai, meaning “God Almighty” or “God of all power” or “God who is all sufficient.”

 

The name El Shaddai assures us that God is able to intervene on behalf of His people. He brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, and He can bring you out of the bondage of sin today. As you praise Him, He will sustain, protect, and redeem you, for He is your “God of all power.” You can lay your burdens down before Him because of His sufficient grace. And as you rest in His forgiveness and mercy, His love will heal you and set you free, naturally leading you to rejoice in Him all the more!

 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the power of praise to transform my heart as I focus on You. I know that as I hope in You and lift my eyes to my Redeemer, I will mount on wings like an eagle, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

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

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.

More Posts by Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.:

  1. Asking for God’s Vision
  2. Praying the Will of God
  3. He Can Open Your Eyes
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