Scripture
But let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in you. May they keep shouting for joy forever! Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy. - Psalm 5:11
It has been said that praise is a weapon against the enemy, but it is also a response to our total trust in the Lord. The righteous are those who trust in the Lord and love His name. Our righteousness becomes evident in our praise, shouts of joy, and rejoicing. In the Hebrew Lexicon, joy means to give a ringing cry, or to sing out. It also means to overcome and to be overcome. Those who find safety and security in God will overcome and, therefore, are invited to a deep internal joy. Because they trust in God, they have divine permission to rejoice. They no longer put their trust in themselves or worldly things, but in the Father. Because their trust is in God, no matter the situation, He promises them joy and gladness. Recently, I began to think about the level of trust I was displaying in the Lord. I discovered that it was easy to have peace that surpasses all understanding that guards my heart and my mind when I still had a hand in making the situations that I faced work out in my favor. I labeled it as faith and trust, but because I still had some semblance of control and resources I could throw at situations, my trust was really in myself. Therefore, when I was faced with a situation that was outside of my control, joy did not come. Instead of joy, fear, and anxiety rose in my heart.
Beloved, can you display a level of trust in God and His nature that you are overcome with shouts of joy? Not because you know how the situation is going to work out, but rejoice amidst the lack of answers. Will a ringing cry come from you when the trial is beyond your control and resources? This is the kind of trust that God adores. The kind of trust that causes His favor to be a shield around us. A shield covers any and every area of the body. It even covers the armor of the soldier. This is how fully the favor of God protects us when we trust during trials. The joy of the righteous is a response to God's protective presence and favor.
What does it mean to love the name of the Lord? It means to know, honor, and cherish the fullness of God's divine character. It's a personal understanding of His attributes, a devotion to Him, and a trusting in His faithfulness to us. It's trusting in His stellar reputation of never failing us. It means exalting God and tangibly singing His praises to show love for His name. This all perpetuates our trust in the true and living God. Beloved, hide yourself in the Lord today and rejoice knowing that His favor is upon your life.
Prayer
Father, we take refuge in you. We pray for a spirit of gladness, and we sing for joy as we trust in your defense. We pray for your favor to surround us like a shield, as you have promised to do for the righteous. In Jesus' name. Amen
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