Reflections:  Shout for Joy

There is nothing better than a shout of joy to break you out of the humdrum of life. I am not quiet when I go to a concert; my quiet, studious, introvert self is left at home while the outgoing, loud dancer breaks free. Why can’t we get that loud and excited about shouting for joy to our God? In Psalm 100, the psalmist calls the earth to shout for joy in worship and gladness with joyful songs. The first thing that ‘the mess’ steals from you is your joy. It’s time to get it back! As I read my Bible, I have noticed that true joy doesn’t stem from hype, it comes from the understanding that we know the Lord is God, because he made us, we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. In Christ, I am all those things, which means I have no excuse not to come out of the mess, shout for joy, worship the Lord with gladness and come before him with joyful songs. If I can do it at a rock concert, I can do it for my God!

Questions: When was the last time you can remember shouting with joy? Was it in ‘joy for the Lord’?

Prayers:  Today, God, I am getting my shout of joy back. The mess has got me down and I have lost my joy, but that stops now. As I read Psalm 100, let ‘the joy of the Lord become my strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10) again, and let me shout to you with joy, and worship with gladness.