Greetings, sisters---
This month as we focus on *joy* let’s look to the Word. In Psalms 51 King David appears to be anything but joyful. His spirit was not right within him. Sin had crept in and his fellowship with the LORD was broken. He knew his heart wasn’t right. O, sister, do you sometimes feel this way, too? Is that sweet fellowship, that peace, that joy in your soul you once knew distant in you now? Is there a grief too hard to bear, a sin separating you or distancing you from the LORD? Pause for just a moment and look to the Word with me.
Psalms 51.10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Oftentimes the joy of our salvation is obscured by troubles… by murmurings… by bitterness… by grudges… by disappointment. All of these things which are common to man are things that steal our joy--- deprive us of sweet fellowship--- rob us, if we let them, of opportunity to be a blessing to others. Sometimes we haven’t the wherewithal to shake the troubles or the grudges that seem to hold us in bondage. But, you know, we really must let loose of those feelings of resentment toward those who’ve let us down and not begrudge the LORD for what He’s allowed in our lives for you know, He does allow things
for His perfect purposes and He always works all things together for our good. Even when things seem to be the lowest, even when friends or family hurt us, ridicule or disappoint us---He’s still at work on our behalf. This is the amazing love and the amazing grace of the Savior. It seems that it is only when we let go of things that bind us that the LORD freely works on our behalf---healing and freeing us---freeing us to more fully love and obey Him, freeing us to respond to His promptings, freeing us to see the joy of our salvation be restored.
I tell you, dear sister, today you can once again find that joy---that sweet joy of the LORD. He’s never left you, in fact you have His Word that He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. If all others leave or forsake you, you know the LORD has said He will never. Never. You know there’s room at the foot of the cross, there’s room at the feet of the Savior. If you’re so low you cannot look up, then bow your head in the precious Hand of the LORD and ask Him to carry you. Ask Him to forgive you for any wrong you’ve done, any sin you’ve committed. Ask Him to lead you in the paths of righteousness for
His Name’s sake. Ask Him to renew a right spirit within you---to take away that bitterness and grief and to restore unto you the joy of His salvation and above all pray that He uphold you with His Holy Spirit. May He be the joy and rejoicing of your heart.
