Meditations on the Meaning of ChristmasShembull

Worshipping with Joy

Joyful, joyful we adore Him! Do we really delight in worshipping God?

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Psalm 122:1

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! Psalm 149:3

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalm 100:1-2

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;  let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1,2

Do we enter into His gates with thanksgiving? Hearts full of gratitude are not simultaneously full of despair. We have been redeemed and we have a relationship with God because of it. We were delivered from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of Christ who died to present us blameless and above reproach. Do we approach prayer with awe that a holy God loves us uttering His name with reverence or as a tag-on to our prayer requests? 

When we come into the presence of the Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, do we do so with hearts full of gladness and gratitude extolling praise or do we shuffle into the throne room with a coffee in one hand and a world full of worries in the other? Let’s pray with awe-filled, grateful hearts. Is serving a privilege or burden? Do we give with open hands and joyful hearts? Let’s let the words of praise songs resonate in our hearts as we sing.

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24

Speak aloud the truth of who God is, we are being created to give Him glory and our hearts will be glad and our spirits will be lifted as we actively recite His praises. Praise Him in the morning, in the car on the way to work and in moments of distress. Praise Him internally and externally.

Saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:12

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. Psalm 33:1-3

Don’t forget your garment of praise, the metaphor in Isaiah referring to gladness and thanksgiving in Christians when they are filled with the joy of the Lord. Just a sackcloth was worn to express grief, conversely we should be wearing a garment of praise.  We worship the giver of immortal gladness, let's do it joyfully!

Joyful, joyful, we adore You, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You, Op'ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!*  HENRY VAN DYKE

Reflect

• Would you characterize your worship as full of joy, gladness, and adoration?
• What is the root of your joy?

Action Steps

• Don’t let your circumstances control your thoughts or behaviour, joy is not a feeling.
• Spend time with God on a regular basis, read God’s Word and call it to mind throughout your day, stay in prayer. Rejoice in the Lord always.
• Guard your mind, put off evil desires and set your mind on godly desires, listen to worship music, be vigilant in watching out for negative thoughts and negative input.
• Remember God is sovereign over all. Don't let your circumstances govern your mood, thoughts, or emotion.
• Live in gratitude. Sing His praises.