Daily Devotional

Question: Have you misplaced your joy in the Lord? Here’s what I mean.

I absolutely love Psalm 51. For me, it seems to speak everything into my mind and heart that is ever needed for godliness in this present world. One of the main blessings of this Psalm is from verses 12 and 13. It speaks about the harmony of joy and sharing the story of your salvation with sinners. There have been times in my life where I’ve been so depressed that I couldn’t remember what it felt like to be joyful about my salvation. Imagine that! A pastor who sometimes struggles with joy over being saved? Yes, we are all humans and even pastors forget from time to time.

King David also struggled with it from time to time. At one point in his life his spirituality became dry and his love for God so very distant. He was just going through the “religious motions” at that point in his life. In Psalm 51 he begged God to “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” That’s what I need at times…and maybe you’re in great need of it even today as well? We all need God to restore to us what we’ve lost or forfeited or forgotten about. We need to be joyful and to also be sustained by God through these glorious seasons of His amazing grace. But then, what does David say would be a result of such sustained joy by God Himself? In verse thirteen he said he would then begin evangelizing the lost, sharing God's ways with those who needed to hear, and that people would return to God. What a blessing!

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably not sharing your faith much when you’re down spiritually, depressed, or even harboring some sin in your life. I have another question for you: If you haven’t shared your faith with anyone lately, maybe it’s because you’ve forfeited or lost your joy...or even “gotten over” your salvation?

O Father…bless whoever reads these words and may you restore their joy, sustain them with a willing spirit to continue in steadfast obedience to you, and may You open their lips to spread the love of Jesus Christ with everyone who crosses their path.

May God richly bless you all, my friends!

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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