You Make Me Glad

-

 

Scripture: Psalm 92:4 (NIV)

For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Devotion:

This verse reminds us that the deepest joy in the Christian life doesn’t come from circumstances but from recognizing God’s hand at work. The psalmist celebrates with gladness because God’s works are good, purposeful, and personal. We often rush through life without pausing to notice the ways God sustains, protects, and blesses us. Let us slow down and reflect on the kindness, goodness, and mercy that God has wrought in our lives today.

The psalmist in this psalm is expressing his joy in what God has already done and will continue to do in his life. While God may allow us to encounter difficulties, God works all things together for good if we will but trust in Him. We have so much to be thankful for. We can rely on what God has done in Scripture and in our lives to give us hope for the future. We need to anchor our lives and our joy in the fact that God is good and He will never change. Jesus promised never to leave us or forsake us ever.

We need to be watching for God’s gentle intervention in our lives. When we witness “a God thing” happening in our lives, we should stop and rejoice. Sometimes we will be in a hurry or be distracted and miss what God is doing. When we finally stop and reflect, we should praise Him for His watchful care over our lives.

Here are some practical helps to increase our awareness of God’s activity in our lives: sit down and write out a list of all the things you are grateful for, prayerfully reflect on all God has done for us, and spend some time remembering answered prayers. Doing these things will help us strengthen our worship and confidence in all that God has done in our lives and be hopeful for the future.

We, like the psalmist, can then rejoice because we can see that God is not some distant, uninvolved God but one who is close to us in every way. He is actively involved with our lives and the lives of those around us. God’s daily mercies, guidance, and protection are all evidence that leads us to be glad that our God cares so deeply for us. And a heart that is glad will become a faithful witness to others of God’s love. Indeed, our joy is rooted in God’s love and provision for our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that too often we have been blind to the ways you are at work in our lives. We walk through life as if we had blinders on. Teach us to slow down and look for your work in our lives. Teach us to be still and know that you are God and we are not. May we be known as glad and joyful people. May we be faithful witnesses to you. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Lift Up My Eyes

-
Scripture: Psalm 121:1-7 ( NIV ) "I lift up my eyes to the mountains —where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life." Devotion: Looking in the Right Direction The psalmist begins with a question we've all asked in moments of fear, uncertainty, or desperation: "Where does my help come from?" Notice he doesn't begin with an answer but with honest seeking. He lifts his eyes to the mountains—perhaps looking toward Jerusalem , where the temple stood, or scanning the horizon for approaching danger or deliverance. But the question itself is crucial. In our age of self-reliance and ...
Read more

At the Crossroads

-
Scripture: Jeremiah 6:16 ( NIV ) 16  This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths , ask where the good way is, and walk in it, And you will find rest for your souls . But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.   Devotion: Life often presents us with crossroads—moments when we must make choices that shape our future and define our character. It is in these moments that Jeremiah 6:16 calls out with clarity and wisdom: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” These words offer both a promise and a warning, urging us to pause, reflect, and make informed choices. Jeremiah spoke these words to a nation that had wandered far from God, forsaking His ways for paths of their own making. The “ancient paths” refer to the tried-and-true principles established by God—paths walked by th...
Read more

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

-
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV) I, Paul , as a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Devotion: Ephesians 4:1-6 calls believers to unity and a life that honors God’s calling. Paul, writing from prison , urges us to live "worthy of the calling you have received." This powerful charge isn’t about earning our place in God’s family —instead, it’s about responding in gratitude to the grace we’ve already received. Paul lists practical ways to demonstrate this: humility , gentleness , patience , and bearing with one another in love. These are not qualities we develop in isolation...
Read more