Notes of Faith October 18, 2024
In Our Element
Happy are the people who know the joyful shout; Lord, they walk in the light from your face.
Psalm 89:15, CSB
A. W. Tozer said, “The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world! People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight.” Charles Spurgeon felt the same way, writing, “God made human beings as He made His other creatures, to be happy…. They are in their right element when they are happy.”
Ps 89:11-18
11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them.
12 The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face.
15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.
16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel.
One day the world will be filled with joy when Christ returns. Isaac Watts wrote, “Joy to the World,” which is actually based on the Millennial passage of Psalm 98 about the Second Coming. But we don’t have to wait for the return of Christ to be happy. He lives in, among, and through us right now by His Spirit. Choose happiness today!
Francis of Assisi said, “Let us leave sadness to the devil and his angels. As for us, what can we be but rejoicing and glad!” And Jonathan Edwards added, “He has created man for this very end, to make him happy in the enjoyment of himself, the Almighty, who was happy from the days of eternity in himself.”
Man is more himself…when joy is the fundamental thing in him.
G. K. Chesterton
The saying, “Don’t worry, be happy,” takes on a whole new meaning when the source is God! It is not flippant. It is not wishful thinking. It is a sure hope and trust in God who will bring honor and glory to those He chooses to pour out His love and eternal life. If you are one of those…be filled with His joy today. He is working in and through all things to bring you to perfection, to bring you to Himself, changed, transformed, perfect, to be the bride of Christ and share His Kingdom forevermore!
Pastor Dale