Psalm 63:3, 4, 7
Because your lovingkindness is better than
life
my lips will praise You
So I will bless You as
long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
For You have been my help,
and in the shadow of Your wings
I sing for JOY.
This year
I had a word pressed upon my heart before I had verse. The word is JOY. I’ve been convicted that I’m not a
particularly joyful person.
Specifically, when considering whether the example of my faith in Christ
would encourage my children towards a relationship with God I had to conclude
that no, it would not. I don’t think
they see any joy related to my faith.
Sure they see me laugh at family silliness and enjoy a movie or time
with friends, but when turbulence hits I grumble just like the world does. (Well, minus the cursing.)
I don’t
see scripture making allowances for grumpiness, but I’ve been making MANY
allowances for myself. I can’t continue
to call myself a disciple without addressing this area. First some clarification of what I mean by
joy.
- 1. Joy is a choice. Really my word of the year is two words: CHOOSE JOY. Joy is not something that happens to me occasionally or something that falls upon me. Joy is a response that I have complete control over. Circumstances do not dictate my joy; I determine my joy.
- 2. Joy is action oriented. I tend to think of joy as a feeling, thus when I respond to situations based on how I feel, joy is usually missing. When I researched the word joy/joyful/rejoice in Psalm 63, the Hebrew words used refer to a joyful voice, singing, triumphing, shouting, crying out. Expressing joy this way is an act of my will that can be completely separated from how I feel in the moment. I see this ‘will’ reflect in the Psalm – “my lips WILL praise you,” “I WILL bless you,” “I WILL lift up my hands,” and “I (WILL) sing for joy,” where the will is implied. (One of the other Hebrew words for joy comes from a word meaning ‘to spin round.’ I suspect choosing to spin round singing praises on a regular basis would change my life.)
- 3. Choosing joy is choosing to trust. Verse 3 starts with “because your lovingkindness is better than life my lips will praise You.” When I choose joy I am saying, “I don’t see it right now, but I believe Your lovingkindness is better than life. I believe You are good. I trust there is something greater going on that I am missing.”
Joy in
the face of tragedy and sorrow is a topic for a much longer discussion. Right now I’m focused on joy in the face of
kids who have left a mess, long check-out lines leading to late appointments,
traffic jams, careless words tossed out by a friend or spouse, filthy kitchen
floors, and people that fail you. This is daily life for me and historically I
choose grumpiness! I choose a silent
anger hoping it will convey my displeasure.
I choose sharp, sarcastic comments.
By the
calendar I’m been a disciple of Jesus for over 30 years. Currently I think I’m a pretty crummy disciple. Jesus urged “take up your cross and follow me,”
but I’m not even willing to let go of minor offenses that fill daily life. I can glibly state I will choose joy, but
when I’m hurt, angry, frustrated, disappointed or overwhelmed, will I? On my own strength, no. No chance.
By submitting, repenting, and depending on the grace of Christ I
can.
I have
yet to be tested, and something tells me it won’t be pretty. My grumpy habits are pretty ingrained. But Paul exhorts that “I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.” Who knew
that the toughest thing of all would be a simple choice. To choose joy.
No comments:
Post a Comment