The Joy of the LordSample

Drawings You Back to Himself by Pastor Rob McWilliams

Senior Pastor of Anchor Church – Oahu, Hawaii

Scripture

Psalm 51:12-13, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.” 

Observation

Psalm 51 is without a doubt one of the most personal and powerful prayers in the Bible. David was confessing his sins to God. David begins in verse 1 pleading for mercy: “Have mercy on me, O God Because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion blot out my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt.” He comes to God actually begging for forgiveness because he feels deep down in his spirit that his intimacy with God has changed because of what he did and he longs to have it back. He desires God's presence more than anything else as he knows the sweetness of God’s joy. Later, in Verse 12 – 13 David seeks resotration and to be that beacon of hope for others to bring them home to Jesus. 

Application

Every one of us who have been touched by God’s grace and mercy and filled with the Holy Spirit, have prayed something just like that when we’ve messed up, haven't we? We know the emptiness the separation has caused by doing our thing our way, ignoring God’s best for us. We lose our peace and joy and we instantly know something is desperately wrong and we desire it back. That’s the Holy Spirit drawing you back. Isn't God so good?! He wants us to become more like Him every day and reflect His love to the world around us. When others see the new you, the extraordinary you, because of the Holy Spirit in you, they will naturally want to know Jesus.

Prayer 

Lord please forgive me for anything I’ve done that offends You. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. Allow me to always experience the sweetness of Your joy. Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can feel Your presence, Your power, Your peace, and that others will see YOU in me. 

Reflection

When have you felt you lost the joy of the Lord, and how did you get it back?