Psalm 51:10-13 (CB)

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

THE IMPORTANCE OF JOY. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” is a prayer we should pray frequently. The Bible commands us to rejoice in God (Philippians 4:4). This is a command not simply to have an emotion but to remind ourselves in such a disciplined way about all we have in Christ that the greatness of it breaks in on our hearts. It is a sin to be less than joyful at what God has done in our lives. Furthermore, we cannot minister to others except out of our own joy. Our words will be hard, harsh, indifferent, or absent unless we are overflowing with the joy of knowing that we are God’s precious possessions, bought at great cost.

Prayer: Lord, I don’t want my heart to be too cast down by my disappointments and losses—but it is hard. Send your Spirit to speak to my heart of the astonishing goods and glories I have and will have in you. Amen.