Blueprint for Joy

Talk a walk with me through the five short verses of Psalm 100 and find a blueprint for joy. Even when the world seems dark, light can be found in Christ. This psalm outlines the how and why of spiritual joy.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

This psalm starts with a command. It declares, “Make a joyful noise.” The writer doesn’t say, “If you feel joyful, make a noise.” Scripture teaches us that our feelings follow our actions, not the other way around. If you start your day with intentional worship, your attitude will be brightened. So whether you need to pop on some praise songs, read some uplifting scripture, or go outside and bask in God’s glorious creation, do it.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

When we serve others, we serve the Lord. The simple act of blessing someone else takes us out of our problems. Show God’s love to someone else, you’ll find joy.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

In this verse, we move from how to have joy to why we should have joy. Our current society places a lot of pressure on individuals. We’re slammed with bad news from all over the world, and, then, directed to solve it–all of it. No wonder we all feel impotent and frustrated. Only one being can handle all of the world. And, that’s the creator of all the world. Acknowledging that there is One above all helps us to focus on what we can do, not what we can’t. We know he is in control of everything else and can take joy in the what we do accomplish.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Thanksgiving means spelling out the specific things God has done for you. Praise is pointing out his good attributes, like longsuffering, holiness, and kindness. The word “bless” comes from the root “to kneel.” Blessing God is about worship. It’s about acknowledging his greatness. When we combine these three acts, we can’t help but feel the joy in our salvation and freedom from sin.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

And now we are back to why we should have joy from how to have joy. Our God is always good, always merciful, and always truthful. We know that He is always with us. What more joy can we find than that?

Prayers appreciated as I continue to recover from covid, and my father continues to heal from his blood infection.