Rejoice and look up!

Today I read Paul's letter to the church at Phiippi. I was struck by the number of times he mentions joy and rejoicing. In chapter 1:4-5 he writes: "I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. " This interests me: Paul made his requests to God with a heart full of joy. I wonder how he did that because I'm ashamed to admit that my requests are usually not made joyfully. They're usually made in dire straits. I mean, it's good to go to God when we're in trouble, and in fact He should be our first answer, not our last, but how many people make requests of Him when things are going well and they can make the requests joyfully? Also, Paul was joyful although he wasn't in the best of circumstances. Maybe that's why he told the Philippians over and over again to rejoice. The gospel was being preached, God's word was getting out, and as a result there was trouble. Paul must have felt that they needed a little encouragement to rejoice. Rejoicing in God takes our eyes off our troubles. When we take our eyes off our troubles, even the worst circumstances don't seem so bad. Look up!