ARE YOU HAPPY?

April 28, 2022

Most people I know are not joyful. Their lives lack the ability to rise with happy expectation of their day and retire with satisfaction and contentment at night. Some live in quiet desperation.

A SECRET

Some of the most delicious recipes are hidden away by their chefs, afraid that someone might steal their secret ingredients. But the Psalmist freely gives us the recipe for joy in Psalm 92.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, with the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. (Psalm 92:1-4)

MORNING AND EVENING

The Psalmist’s joy is a two-step process, all involved with the practice of giving thanks to the Most High.

In the MORNING … Rise and declare God’s lovingkindness. Think of how the Lord is perfect in His love and perfect in His kindness. With this proper understanding, realize that the day is going to be filled with his love, protection, and care, all bathed in His overwhelming kindness. And begin the day giving thanks!

In the EVENING … Retire giving thanks for the ways God has been faithful to you. Look back over the day and rejoice in what He has faithfully accomplished in your life.

GOD’S JOB

The Psalmist said that the Lord made him glad! If we open our eyes and see what He has done, we will be filled with joy at “the works of His hands.”

There are experiences that are heavy to our hearts. But even there, we can know abiding joy. It would seem that the cause of most of our joylessness is forgetfulness. There’s no reason we should slip into oppressive sadness or lose the deep well of joy today. Remember and give thanks to the Lord, morning and evening!

Father, forgive me for not seeing You. For being so consumed with myself that I do not lift my eyes to recognize all You have done and are doing and will do. Give me the wisdom to give thanks all day long today and let my joy be a testimony of Your goodness.

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