Choose Joy. How to Find Joy Part 3

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.  Psalm 9:1-2

I love the expression that one of the dear Saints in our church uses as she begins to pray, “Lord we run into your presence”. I have a picture that plays in my mind of a child running into the arms their father as he returns home from work.  The father bends down to accept the outstretched arms and as he stands to swing the child in joyful reunion a delighted squeal escapes the mouth of the child.  Oh, how it should be as we come into the presence of our Father in Heaven, Holy is His name.  Just as our earthly fathers show us the ways of life our Heavenly Father will add to that teaching wisdom, protection, provision, salvation, and spiritual training that will provide for us a path of joy as we face the storms of life. You see, authentic joy comes only from being in God’s presence. 

If we desire to find joy, praise is a requirement.  God’s people are exhorted often in the Bible to “praise the Lord”. Praise is our expression of gratitude and the only way to give God the highest of glory.  The first song of praise was sung after crossing the Red Sea, David’s praise is recorded in the book of Psalms, Jesus praised his Heavenly Father in the book of Matthew and praising God is one of the main functions of angels.  Praise can take on many forms.  It can be corporate worship, it can be singing of songs and hymns, it can even be musical praise expressed through instruments. Donald C. Stamps says that we can communicate our praise by telling others about God or by our deeds.  We can sing, we can shout, we can pray, it doesn’t matter how we praise, it just matters that we do. So, praise! Usher in His Holy Presence. Find the source of joy.

in thy presence is fulness of joy…Psalm 16:11

Pastor Julia Scott