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The Source of Joy
Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy”
[To trust you, Lord Jesus, and thereby see you in your grandness, power, glory and wisdom, to understand your carefulness, consistency, cherishing and constant care in our lives—this leads us to respond with joy.
Your rich love and warm acceptance, granting us honor and security in your Kingdom—these are just what we desire, they are exactly what we were made for in having such a relationship with you!]
“and I will give thanks to him in song.”
[Deep, full, genuine trust leads to rejoicing, thanksgiving, praise with singing. You, Lord God, are the source of joy, of song, of music, of gladness, so you have planted in us this response of love to your poured out grace.]
I praise you now, Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for the day before us that you have prepared, for the things you are going to do and bring, for the activities, the failures, the weakness and difficulties that will come–each an opportunity to live for you, to give you glory, to rest in you.
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for the wonder of knowing you, of living with you, of being called to join you in what you are doing, of being equipped, empowered, protected and useful to you, an effective instrument in your hand.
May you be pleased and honored today by my trust and obedience, may your name be lifted up and exalted as your Spirit works in and through me, O Lord God, King of Glory, Ruler of all, Shepherd of the weak. Amen.
The Power of Trust
Marvelous Mercy
Mighty, Majestic Magnificence
Great is Your Mercy
Psalm 28:3-5
Psalm 28:3 “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.”
[This is not what most people think of as evil—seemingly being cordial–but would label as goodness! Yet you, Lord, look beyond appearances, to the motives, at the intent of the heart and label this as sin. Lord, help us to also be intent on seeing our sin as you view it, and being harsh with evil in our motives, rejecting it and living instead with love and grace in our hearts towards our neighbors.]
Psalm 28:4 “Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve.”
[You, Lord God are a righteous and loving God, therefore you deal with what is evil. You, Lord Jesus, will come as judge and bring clear, just, right condemnation on those who have refused to believe in you, on those who refuse the truth and live according to their own ideas.
Praise you, Heavenly Father, that you do not allow evil to go unchecked now and unjudged in the future. I can trust you 100% to do what is righteous and merciful: I am so thankful that you have wiped my record of evil clean with the blood of Christ.]
Psalm 28:5 “Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done,”
[This is a description of independence from God, a rejection of His values, His work, His Word. They do not acknowledge God, His divinity or His marvelous accomplishments. All is natural, all is science, all is man-centered. And all who live so will fail.]
“he will tear them down and never build them up again.”
[They are fighting God, but it is futile: He will win. They will fall, not the least in that they must die and then face judgment.
You, Lord God, are sovereign, the One to be obeyed, revered, glorified and honored. I praise you for your goodness and for what you will do today. May my life be the opposite of those described above so you may be honored in my words, revered in my actions, exalted in my reactions, and praised in my relationships.]