September 16
God Rejoices Over Me
Zephaniah 3:17
Before the Fall, our first parents never second-guessed their worth. Never once did they worry about what people thought of them. Never once did they look in the mirror and think, "I have regrets about who I am." In fact, there were no mirrors!
Only because of the Fall do we have negative thoughts about ourselves. This is not the way God intended it to be. So this week, we’re going to work on enjoying ourselves.
Our first lesson is that God is far happier with you than you are.
Here’s a Scripture that’s worth memorizing. Write it on a snippet of paper and put it on your mirror today:
The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah (Zeph. 1:1), the only prophet of royal descent. He grew up during some terrible days under two kings (Manasseh and Amon) who led the kingdom in worshiping false gods. The Lord used Zephaniah's ministry to help people realize their only hope was to turn back to the One True Living God, which they did under King Josiah a few years later.
The book of Zephaniah is three chapters long. Zephaniah 1-2 urges people to repent. Zephaniah 3 turns a corner as the people get right with God. It's such a wonderful day that he says, “Sing for joy, Daughter of Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! (Zeph. 3:14). Why? Because “The Lord has removed your punishment… (Zeph. 3:15a).
The New Testament tells us that that happened when Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1-2).
The Lord now sees you as righteous. He is “a warrior who saves” (Zeph. 3:17). Which is why, right now, as He looks at you, He rejoices over you with gladness and delights in you with singing.
Focus your ears on heaven for a minute, and listen for His voice. He is singing over you as a mama sings over her
newborn as it sleeps.
His heart is full of joy for you, which is why you should allow yourself to feel joy about being you. You are loved by Him, wanted by Him, enjoyed by Him. He believes you are remarkably and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13). Allow yourself to feel this joy today.
Lord, thank You for the song you're singing over me right now. Since I am made in Your image, I know I should feel great about who I am, but I confess that sometimes I don't like myself as well as I should. I've decided to change that today! At this moment, I choose to join You in the song. You're singing about me right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Only because of the Fall do we have negative thoughts about ourselves. This is not the way God intended it to be. So this week, we’re going to work on enjoying ourselves.
Our first lesson is that God is far happier with you than you are.
Here’s a Scripture that’s worth memorizing. Write it on a snippet of paper and put it on your mirror today:
The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah (Zeph. 1:1), the only prophet of royal descent. He grew up during some terrible days under two kings (Manasseh and Amon) who led the kingdom in worshiping false gods. The Lord used Zephaniah's ministry to help people realize their only hope was to turn back to the One True Living God, which they did under King Josiah a few years later.
The book of Zephaniah is three chapters long. Zephaniah 1-2 urges people to repent. Zephaniah 3 turns a corner as the people get right with God. It's such a wonderful day that he says, “Sing for joy, Daughter of Zion; shout loudly, Israel! Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! (Zeph. 3:14). Why? Because “The Lord has removed your punishment… (Zeph. 3:15a).
The New Testament tells us that that happened when Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:1-2).
The Lord now sees you as righteous. He is “a warrior who saves” (Zeph. 3:17). Which is why, right now, as He looks at you, He rejoices over you with gladness and delights in you with singing.
Focus your ears on heaven for a minute, and listen for His voice. He is singing over you as a mama sings over her
newborn as it sleeps.
His heart is full of joy for you, which is why you should allow yourself to feel joy about being you. You are loved by Him, wanted by Him, enjoyed by Him. He believes you are remarkably and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13). Allow yourself to feel this joy today.
Lord, thank You for the song you're singing over me right now. Since I am made in Your image, I know I should feel great about who I am, but I confess that sometimes I don't like myself as well as I should. I've decided to change that today! At this moment, I choose to join You in the song. You're singing about me right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!
September 17
Enjoying Life Under the Sun
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Solomon had it all.
His annual income was 25 tons of gold, besides what came in through merchants, traders, and foreign governments (2 Chron. 9:13-14). His throne was made of ivory, which apparently wasn’t elegant enough for him, so he had it overlaid in gold. The thing had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold, two golden lions standing beside the seat, and twelve more lions flanking the sides of the steps. 2 Chronicles 9:19 says, “Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.”
His creativity was off the charts. He wrote 3,000 proverbs and more songs than the Beatles (1,005 of them). If that wasn't enough, “He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish” (1 Kings. 4:33).
Plus, he had wisdom spilling out his brain. “All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart” (2 Chron. 9:23).
During one season of his life, he put his big brain to work analyzing the nature of life. Solomon asked the question, "What would life be worth if you took God out of the equation?" He called this theoretical world "Life under the sun." In other words, it is physical life without the supernatural. What he came up with is the book of Ecclesiastes.
After looking at all potential endeavors, like piling up knowledge, accumulating riches, and indulging in experiences, Solomon concluded that apart from pursuing God, the only thing worthwhile is to enjoy your life for the little pleasures you find in it.
Here are his words. “So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun” (Eccl. 8:15).
Some Christians think they ought to be miserable most of the time. After all, we're sinners. We've offended God and hurt people. They think, "We ought to feel bad about that."
Close, but not true. We ought to regret our offenses and hurts. We ought to confess when we’ve wronged God, and apologize and make restitution when we’ve damaged others. But Jesus has forgiven our sins, so we don’t have to live in them any longer!
Today is a good day to untether yourself from things that are past. Honor God, and enjoy yourself as you live life “under the sun.” Savor your food. Bask in the weather. Relish your friends’ smiles. Delight in moments with family members.
Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Memorize that; say it to yourself every morning, and then live it out.
Amen?
Lord, You have reminded me that You want me to enjoy my life. Thank You for creating me with eyes to appreciate beauty, ears to savor wonderful sounds, a tongue to taste with, and a nose to relish fragrant smells. You created this day, and I purpose to enjoy it, as well as You and myself today. In Jesus' name, Amen!
His annual income was 25 tons of gold, besides what came in through merchants, traders, and foreign governments (2 Chron. 9:13-14). His throne was made of ivory, which apparently wasn’t elegant enough for him, so he had it overlaid in gold. The thing had six steps; there was a footstool covered in gold, two golden lions standing beside the seat, and twelve more lions flanking the sides of the steps. 2 Chronicles 9:19 says, “Nothing like it had ever been made in any other kingdom.”
His creativity was off the charts. He wrote 3,000 proverbs and more songs than the Beatles (1,005 of them). If that wasn't enough, “He spoke about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing out of the wall. He also spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish” (1 Kings. 4:33).
Plus, he had wisdom spilling out his brain. “All the kings of the world wanted an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart” (2 Chron. 9:23).
During one season of his life, he put his big brain to work analyzing the nature of life. Solomon asked the question, "What would life be worth if you took God out of the equation?" He called this theoretical world "Life under the sun." In other words, it is physical life without the supernatural. What he came up with is the book of Ecclesiastes.
After looking at all potential endeavors, like piling up knowledge, accumulating riches, and indulging in experiences, Solomon concluded that apart from pursuing God, the only thing worthwhile is to enjoy your life for the little pleasures you find in it.
Here are his words. “So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun” (Eccl. 8:15).
Some Christians think they ought to be miserable most of the time. After all, we're sinners. We've offended God and hurt people. They think, "We ought to feel bad about that."
Close, but not true. We ought to regret our offenses and hurts. We ought to confess when we’ve wronged God, and apologize and make restitution when we’ve damaged others. But Jesus has forgiven our sins, so we don’t have to live in them any longer!
Today is a good day to untether yourself from things that are past. Honor God, and enjoy yourself as you live life “under the sun.” Savor your food. Bask in the weather. Relish your friends’ smiles. Delight in moments with family members.
Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Memorize that; say it to yourself every morning, and then live it out.
Amen?
Lord, You have reminded me that You want me to enjoy my life. Thank You for creating me with eyes to appreciate beauty, ears to savor wonderful sounds, a tongue to taste with, and a nose to relish fragrant smells. You created this day, and I purpose to enjoy it, as well as You and myself today. In Jesus' name, Amen!
September 18
Good Medicine
Proverbs 17:22
The New Testament’s word for joy is Chara. It appears 59 times and means "to exult" or "rejoice greatly." Its related word is chairo, which is the verb "rejoice." Chairo appears 74 times. Considering there are only 27 books in the New Testament, that's a lot of joy!
Chara is different than “happiness.” That’s Makarios. It's a good word, too. Makarios is happiness based on what's happening. If the things around me are going well, I'm happy. Chara isn't based on things around me. It comes from within me.
Happiness happens to me. Joy is a choice. On day one, we learned that since God is joy if God is within you, then you have joy within you, regardless of your circumstances. If something terrible happens, joy may not be flowing out of you at the moment, but it is simmering inside you.
I tell you all of that to say that the more you choose to let joy fill you, the healthier you will be.
How do I know this?
With the Holy Spirit's prompting, Solomon (the wise man we learned from yesterday) wrote, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22).
Norman Cousins, the famous editor of The Saturday Review, was diagnosed with "degenerative collagen disease" and given one chance in 500 to recover. He went to work on researching the biochemistry of human emotions and decided to combine massive doses of vitamin C with what he called "Laugh Therapy."
“I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of painless sleep,” he wrote in Anatomy of an Illness.
Cousins found by research what God gave by revelation 3,000 years earlier: A joyful heart really is good medicine.
Can I make a suggestion?
Instead of thinking about what's wrong in our world today, choose joy. Like it says in Philippians 4:8, think about things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy,
Find joy within you. Life is like a train track. There are two sides to it. Even when something is going wrong in your life, there's always something good as well. As we say in church, "God is good all the time." Think about Him and His love for you and His goodness to you.
Watch less news today. There won’t be any “good reports” there. If you’re going to watch something, watch something that will make you laugh.
Make it your goal to consume at least ten minutes of genuine belly laughter. Better yet, set a goal of helping someone else experience ten minutes of belly laughter.
Father, thank You for creating me with the capacity to generate joy. I purpose today to think about good things, and to help others to see the good things within and without. Thank You for creating me with lips that curl upward. Today, I am letting go of worry, stress, and pain. I choose to laugh and find joy in life. In Jesus' name, amen!
Chara is different than “happiness.” That’s Makarios. It's a good word, too. Makarios is happiness based on what's happening. If the things around me are going well, I'm happy. Chara isn't based on things around me. It comes from within me.
Happiness happens to me. Joy is a choice. On day one, we learned that since God is joy if God is within you, then you have joy within you, regardless of your circumstances. If something terrible happens, joy may not be flowing out of you at the moment, but it is simmering inside you.
I tell you all of that to say that the more you choose to let joy fill you, the healthier you will be.
How do I know this?
With the Holy Spirit's prompting, Solomon (the wise man we learned from yesterday) wrote, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22).
Norman Cousins, the famous editor of The Saturday Review, was diagnosed with "degenerative collagen disease" and given one chance in 500 to recover. He went to work on researching the biochemistry of human emotions and decided to combine massive doses of vitamin C with what he called "Laugh Therapy."
“I made the joyous discovery that ten minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of painless sleep,” he wrote in Anatomy of an Illness.
Cousins found by research what God gave by revelation 3,000 years earlier: A joyful heart really is good medicine.
Can I make a suggestion?
Instead of thinking about what's wrong in our world today, choose joy. Like it says in Philippians 4:8, think about things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy,
Find joy within you. Life is like a train track. There are two sides to it. Even when something is going wrong in your life, there's always something good as well. As we say in church, "God is good all the time." Think about Him and His love for you and His goodness to you.
Watch less news today. There won’t be any “good reports” there. If you’re going to watch something, watch something that will make you laugh.
Make it your goal to consume at least ten minutes of genuine belly laughter. Better yet, set a goal of helping someone else experience ten minutes of belly laughter.
Father, thank You for creating me with the capacity to generate joy. I purpose today to think about good things, and to help others to see the good things within and without. Thank You for creating me with lips that curl upward. Today, I am letting go of worry, stress, and pain. I choose to laugh and find joy in life. In Jesus' name, amen!
September 19
Joy in-the-Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23a
There’s a battle going on inside you.
It’s a war between what the Bible calls flesh and Spirit – your physical self and your spiritual self. Winning this war, day by day leads to joy.
Before coming to Christ, you had only one nature, the fleshly or "sinful" nature. When you invited Jesus into your life, He brought you a new nature, a "spiritual" nature, directed by His Holy Spirit.
The Bible describes this battle in Romans 7 and 8:
“When we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death” (Romans 7:5). This explains, in part, why people are often unhappy.
But when the Holy Spirit came in, you were empowered to live not according to your old nature but according to your new nature. Here's what happened: “He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3b-4).
Now, this is the part that's uber-relevant for having joy. “For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).
Two fantastic things happen as you live according to the Spirit. 1) You begin to think like Him. That’s what Romans 8:5 is telling us. 2) You begin to live like Him. God tells us about this in Galatians – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).
Joy is one of the “fruits of the Spirit.”
Today, if you will direct your mind to the things of the Spirit – things that are of Him and from Him and for Him; or, as Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… morally excellent… or praiseworthy…” You will find joy breaking out all over you, like fruit pops out on a tree.
Lord, I purpose to partner with You today in directing my thoughts to Spirit-led things. I want to listen to You and be led by You. Please work with me to direct my thoughts and produce all the fruit of the Spirit in me, especially joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
It’s a war between what the Bible calls flesh and Spirit – your physical self and your spiritual self. Winning this war, day by day leads to joy.
Before coming to Christ, you had only one nature, the fleshly or "sinful" nature. When you invited Jesus into your life, He brought you a new nature, a "spiritual" nature, directed by His Holy Spirit.
The Bible describes this battle in Romans 7 and 8:
“When we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death” (Romans 7:5). This explains, in part, why people are often unhappy.
But when the Holy Spirit came in, you were empowered to live not according to your old nature but according to your new nature. Here's what happened: “He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3b-4).
Now, this is the part that's uber-relevant for having joy. “For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5).
Two fantastic things happen as you live according to the Spirit. 1) You begin to think like Him. That’s what Romans 8:5 is telling us. 2) You begin to live like Him. God tells us about this in Galatians – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).
Joy is one of the “fruits of the Spirit.”
Today, if you will direct your mind to the things of the Spirit – things that are of Him and from Him and for Him; or, as Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… morally excellent… or praiseworthy…” You will find joy breaking out all over you, like fruit pops out on a tree.
Lord, I purpose to partner with You today in directing my thoughts to Spirit-led things. I want to listen to You and be led by You. Please work with me to direct my thoughts and produce all the fruit of the Spirit in me, especially joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
September 20
Living In-The-Moment
Ecclesiastes 11:7-9
Solomon lived to be 70. Towards the end of his life, he wrote, “…if someone lives many years, let him rejoice in them all…” (Ecclesiastes 11:8)
Before the advent of the smartphone, daydreamers could be in a room but mentally far away. Then came this device we all carry in our pockets. Now, everyone can be in a room, but far away.
To combat this, somebody coined the phrase, "Stay in the moment."
That’s what Solomon was saying: Every day has its delights. Every moment has its wonders. It’s easy to look forward, and it’s easy to wish for different circumstances, different surroundings, or that you were with different people. But one secret to living a joy-filled life is to appreciate the things you have in this moment.
Because really, you have so much! Right here, right now.
Light, and air, and thoughts, and people, and God’s Spirit.
Use your eyes to see colors; really see them right now. How many colors can you see at this very moment?
Use your hands to appreciate different textures. Your hair, your cheek, your shirt, your chair.
Let your ears hear the music of the wind and the whispers of the birds outside.
And don't forget the wonder of smell or the adventures of taste.
If you want to be miserable, take everything good for granted. Look at everything through tired eyes. “I’ve seen this all before.” “There’s nothing good in my life right now.” “I have nothing to live for.” “There’s nothing to look forward to.” Let yourself be bored and lazy and dissatisfied. That’s the recipe for both wasting life and missing life.
You have never been in the moment you’re in right now. You’ve never been your current age until today. You’ve never had your current knowledge or experience. From a material standpoint, you are surrounded by more good things than most of human history could have imagined.
And spiritually, you have Jesus to live for. And His church to share with. And heaven to look forward to. And so much more.
Solomon’s full discourse on the matter is…
Light is sweet, and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if someone lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.
9 Rejoice, young person, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desire of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:7-9).
So, live in the moment today. This is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it! Enjoy wherever you are. And enjoy every season and every stage of your life.
Amen?
Lord, thank You for this day. It's like no other I've lived before. You have new mercies for me. And new learnings. And new adventures. Help me to live this day, and every day, in the moment, with You! In Jesus' name, Amen!
Before the advent of the smartphone, daydreamers could be in a room but mentally far away. Then came this device we all carry in our pockets. Now, everyone can be in a room, but far away.
To combat this, somebody coined the phrase, "Stay in the moment."
That’s what Solomon was saying: Every day has its delights. Every moment has its wonders. It’s easy to look forward, and it’s easy to wish for different circumstances, different surroundings, or that you were with different people. But one secret to living a joy-filled life is to appreciate the things you have in this moment.
Because really, you have so much! Right here, right now.
Light, and air, and thoughts, and people, and God’s Spirit.
Use your eyes to see colors; really see them right now. How many colors can you see at this very moment?
Use your hands to appreciate different textures. Your hair, your cheek, your shirt, your chair.
Let your ears hear the music of the wind and the whispers of the birds outside.
And don't forget the wonder of smell or the adventures of taste.
If you want to be miserable, take everything good for granted. Look at everything through tired eyes. “I’ve seen this all before.” “There’s nothing good in my life right now.” “I have nothing to live for.” “There’s nothing to look forward to.” Let yourself be bored and lazy and dissatisfied. That’s the recipe for both wasting life and missing life.
You have never been in the moment you’re in right now. You’ve never been your current age until today. You’ve never had your current knowledge or experience. From a material standpoint, you are surrounded by more good things than most of human history could have imagined.
And spiritually, you have Jesus to live for. And His church to share with. And heaven to look forward to. And so much more.
Solomon’s full discourse on the matter is…
Light is sweet, and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if someone lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. All that comes is futile.
9 Rejoice, young person, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the desire of your eyes; but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:7-9).
So, live in the moment today. This is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it! Enjoy wherever you are. And enjoy every season and every stage of your life.
Amen?
Lord, thank You for this day. It's like no other I've lived before. You have new mercies for me. And new learnings. And new adventures. Help me to live this day, and every day, in the moment, with You! In Jesus' name, Amen!
September 21
Joy from Forgiveness
Psalm 32
I’m sure you’ve done things you regret. I certainly have.
I call these, “My stupid moments.” Like the time I… Well, you get the point.
King David's ultimate stupid moment was worse than anything you and I have ever done. He let his troops go into battle while staying home to sunbathe (1 Kings 11). He was bored and restless and let his restlessness lead him to adultery. (Which is just plain stupid, isn’t it?) But it gets worse.
He got his paramour pregnant and had her husband killed. And then he married her.
Imagine the weight of guilt he must have carried. The soldier he killed was one of his most loyal servants. The man had a family. His new wife had a family. Imagine how she must have felt.
David writes, “My sin is ever before me!” (Ps. 51:3). He couldn’t stop thinking about it. There was no joy in his life.
How do you find joy when you’ve sunk that low?
David wrote an entire Psalm to tell us how. In a word, it is, “be forgiven.”
I hope you’ll read the whole Psalm. It’s only 11 sentences. And notice the progress of the King’s thoughts:
1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose Spirit is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore, let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart. Psalm 32
If there’s something you’ve done that needs God’s forgiveness, do what David did in v. 5: acknowledge your sin to Him, right now. Whatever you’ve done, He’s already paid for. Let Him restore you by confessing and accepting the forgiveness He’s already granted. Then, allow yourself to feel His joy.
Father, thank You for paying for my sins on the cross. You know all that I've done. I confess _____________ (name your sin) right now. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
I call these, “My stupid moments.” Like the time I… Well, you get the point.
King David's ultimate stupid moment was worse than anything you and I have ever done. He let his troops go into battle while staying home to sunbathe (1 Kings 11). He was bored and restless and let his restlessness lead him to adultery. (Which is just plain stupid, isn’t it?) But it gets worse.
He got his paramour pregnant and had her husband killed. And then he married her.
Imagine the weight of guilt he must have carried. The soldier he killed was one of his most loyal servants. The man had a family. His new wife had a family. Imagine how she must have felt.
David writes, “My sin is ever before me!” (Ps. 51:3). He couldn’t stop thinking about it. There was no joy in his life.
How do you find joy when you’ve sunk that low?
David wrote an entire Psalm to tell us how. In a word, it is, “be forgiven.”
I hope you’ll read the whole Psalm. It’s only 11 sentences. And notice the progress of the King’s thoughts:
1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2 How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose Spirit is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore, let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
shout for joy, all you upright in heart. Psalm 32
If there’s something you’ve done that needs God’s forgiveness, do what David did in v. 5: acknowledge your sin to Him, right now. Whatever you’ve done, He’s already paid for. Let Him restore you by confessing and accepting the forgiveness He’s already granted. Then, allow yourself to feel His joy.
Father, thank You for paying for my sins on the cross. You know all that I've done. I confess _____________ (name your sin) right now. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!