THE ONLY REASON FOR JOY
Psalm 89: 8,16 NLT
O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, Lord?
Faithfulness is your very character. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation. They exalt in your righteousness.
I’ve got to be very honest with you. As I look around the world we live in today, I see very little reason for joy. The present state of our nation, the triumphs of evil and wicked people, the tyranny of the mob, the corruption, injustice, and lies, the terrible and consequential decisions being made by tyrannical government leaders, leaves me feeling anguished, sorrowful, and deeply vexed. It is literally like watching a catastrophe in slow motion, knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it, while you are forced to live with the consequences of these corrupt, wicked people, who are lauded daily by a corrupt and wicked media. I am equally sickened and appalled by the epidemic of “wokeness” garbage spreading like the plague through evangelical Christianity and in so many Christian leaders! It is enough to simply rob any astute, thinking, rational, righteous human being of all their joy. As Proverbs says, “When the wicked rule the people groan!”
I often feel exactly like the prophet Jeremiah felt, in the anguish of his soul, and the tremendous sorrow he experienced, watching his nation, Israel, blatantly ignore God, exalt and wallow in sin and wickedness, scoff at God and righteousness, all the while knowing the severe, unstoppable judgment and destruction of God was coming on all of them, that he himself would have to suffer under it as well, even though he was a righteous man, who had risked his life and well-being to warn them time and time again, all to no avail!
One could rightly ask, “Is there any possible, rational reason for joy today?”
For me, there is but one sustainable reason, and one reason alone that I have any joy today. My reason, The Lord GOD Almighty! The incredible, eternal, unchanging reputation of God and who He is every moment of every minute of every day now and forevermore, perfectly, steadfastly the same!
I have lived a lot of years now, I have seen a lot of things, experienced a lot of things, and endured a lot of things I would not have imagined! Through it all, the faithfulness and unfailing love of God, has sustained me and brought me real, authentic joy, in spite of the many troubles and sorrows.
When was the last time you took the time to focus your mental and emotional energies on the wonderful reputation of God? When was the last time you rejoiced in the wonderful knowledge of who God is?
Have you pondered His great faithfulness, His unfailing love, His goodness, His righteousness, His wisdom, His overwhelming, almighty power? O how I exalt and praise His righteousness, knowing there is no evil or injustice in God! How I exalt and rejoice in the faithfulness of God, knowing that the same God who fed 2 million people in the desert every day for 40 years, with bread from heaven, is the very same God who has miraculously taken care of me for the last 3 years as I’ve walked through the desert wilderness of my life. God has been so incredibly faithful and kind to me in spite of the cruelties and treacheries of man. How I rejoice in the divine treasure that God is to me. The inexhaustible supply of every provision and every need that I could possibly have. Time and time again, God has heard my prayers, answered my prayers, and listened to my literal cries for help! Time and time again, God has bent down to listen to my hurt, my sorrows, my pains, my angst, my griefs and sustained me, kept me from utter despair, comforted my soul, and breathed life into my weary, and broken spirit! How I rejoice in the reputation of God, who cannot lie, keeps every promise, and is already waiting in my tomorrows, knowing full well all the details of my life. How I rejoice in the almighty power of God who can overcome any obstacle, destroy all evil with a single word, who performs great miracles for his children. How I rejoice that He is my home through all the days of my life! How I rejoice that He is my Rock and my Fortress, as the world around me crumbles! How I rejoice in my Savior who even now is still saving me time and time again. How I rejoice that He is my Great Provider, the very Sustainer of my life!
This, my friends, is why every day in my times of prayer I worship, exalt, praise, and thank my Almighty God! He is my reason for any joy, He is my reason for rejoicing. Every single day, no matter what I have to walk through or face, I can run in my heart, my mind, and my thoughts, to who God is. I can ponder His fantastic reputation and there is where I find true joy! There is where you will find true joy! If you will take the time to ponder His glorious reputation you will begin to rejoice yourself in who God is to you!
Imagine with me for one moment that you just found out you were left an inheritance of 10 million dollars today! What would you do? What would you feel? What would you experience? You and I both know. Elation and joy! Your mind would be filled with all the things you would do with that money. You wouldn’t stop thinking of your good fortune!
What is God worth to you? God and His faithfulness with all His extraordinary attributes are the greatest treasure in the universe! You belong to Him, and He belongs to you!
As the ancient writer proclaimed, “I will exalt greatly in the Lord, my soul will rejoice in my God in my God!”
Please listen to this incredible song “I Exalt Thee”, and take the time to listen to these 2 podcasts, Knowing God and The Joy of God.
I guarantee you they will be a great blessing to your spirit!
This song captures exactly what I mean!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://strongdisciple.com/
https://strongdisciple.com/
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
