Joy Restored

Psalm 51:12 (NIV) "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Do you remember the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior. The deep joy you felt knowing your sins were forgiven?  The longing you felt to go anywhere and do anything with him?  

The day you aligned yourself with Christ you became the enemy of Satan. In that sweet moment you declared yourself free from slavery. Satan will not giving up his salves without a fight. As in the dark days of slavery in the United States, many shave owners would rather see their slave dead then free. John 10:10 (NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Our enemy will do everything in his power to destroy our lives and keep us from that "full" life Jesus wants us to have. 

He will try to increase our worry. Matthew 6:25 (NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?"  

He will try to increase our fear. Isaiah 41:10 "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

He will try to steal out peace. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."

The Psalmist wrote, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."  

Our joy is resorted and we are sustained through all Satan throws at us when, first, we remember our salvation. Nothing can take that away. John 10:28 "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,"

The second, and most difficult step is having a willing spirit. Willing to obey, willing to trust, willing to submit. 

Obedience: an act or instance of obeying; the quality or state of being obedient

When we ask our children to do something, we don't want to hear whining or, "In a minute."  We want instant obedience. I believe that God desires the same from his children. 1 Samuel 15:22 "But Samuel replied, 'What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. 

We trust our friends, parents, spouses, etc. yet we know they will fail us at times. They will hurt us at times. If, as Webster says, trust is based on the character, ability, strength, and truth of someone, why do we find it so hard to trust our Heavenly Father?  If his character is not proven, I don't know whose is!!!

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding."

Submission: the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant; an act of submitting to the authority or control of another. 

As we get to know God in a deeper way, we begin to understand that he will never ask something of us that is not for our good. It may be painful but he is always with us. We often ask our children to do things they would rather not do, but even when it may hurt, if they trust our character they will submit because they know we love them and want what is best for them. How much more should we be willing to submit to God?  Job 22:21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you." 

Let us ask our loving Father to restore our joy and sustain us as we obey, trust, and submit today!!!