Make Me Glad!

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

How great are your works, O Lord!” Psalm 92:1-5

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord!
    Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100

“This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Many of the psalms are songs of gladness, artistically composed and joyfully sung as praise to the Lord. They recite His deeds, love, grace, and goodness, and that focus on God elicits gladness within that wells up to come out. All God is and does serves to make the wondering heart glad, and we determine how to express our response.

In daily routine, are we more prone to griping or gladness? When faced with opposition or difficulty, or an ornery family member or colleague, do we default quickly to grouse and complain? How would interactions and attitudes be different if we chose instead to give thanks for all God has done and is doing in the situation? When we get fixated on imperfect works of others or personal failures, we can easily spiral into fussing, blaming, criticizing, even self-loathing. Pondering God’s providence and what He might be teaching or orchestrating in the situation illuminates divine possibilities and raises hope.

What can we implement by way of discipline or accountability to enhance delight in our Lord and more regularly express praise? When will we recount God’s works until they make us glad? What poor choices of input, perspective, and words can we exchange for uplifting ones? Grouchy moods are excuses to make others miserable and are never justifiable in light of the Lord’s goodness. In contrast, a heart fixed on Christ cannot stay gloomy. (Colossians 3:8-10,12-17)

What do we allow to dampen gladness of heart and speech? No circumstance is out of God’s view, no pain beyond His love, no troubles too great for His strength. He made us, works for us, and reigns over all. Be glad!

“Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o’er earth and heav’n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!” ~Charles Wesley (1744)

Amen!