Joyful in Christ
Friday, July 16
Joyful in Christ
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:12
A.W. Tozer writes, “Most Christians are not joyful persons because they are not holy persons, and they are not holy persons because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit; they are not filled with the Holy Spirit because they are not separated persons.” It’s clear that God desires His people to be people characterized by joy. If we are to experience the joy of salvation we will have to realize that there are conditions to it.
Joy is spontaneous. It’s not something we can muster up. Joy is one part of what salvation should bring to the believer. When David sinned he lost the joy of his salvation and prayed, ‘Restore to me the joy of Your salvation’ (Psalm 51:12). Joy was restored to David through the brokenness of repentance, which brought him the assurance of forgiveness. David did not readily come to repentance. Until he met Nathan the prophet he was unconcerned about his sin. Nathan’s words brought conviction, which led to repentance and forgiveness from God.
Repentance leads to the fullness of joy and salvation. Repentance precedes forgiveness, which is a gift of God’s abundant grace.
Prayer for today: Loving Father, thank You for Jesus, who made the way. Thank You that He came that I could be forgiven. Thank You for the joy of Your salvation. I humble myself before You and look to You, and ask You to convict me of anything in my life that blocks the flow of Your love into my heart. This blockage stops the flow of joy, help me to be free no longer bound, but free to experience joy. Please give me the gift of repentance, and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.