June 18, Anointing of Joy

Today’s reading: Psalms 86-90

“Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you” - Psalm 86:4.

There are some people who don’t trust joy. They claim it is an emotion and cannot be trusted as a reliable source of guidance or confirmation. If joy comes, that’s all well and good, but duty, rationality, and freedom from emotions are preferable when worshiping, making decisions, and walking out discipleship. If all that’s true, then why did David pray that God would bring him joy? If joy is not to be trusted, why did Jesus have and follow His joy? If joy is so unreliable and fickle, why would God create you with joy in doing certain things and then not allow you to follow or savor that joy? We read about Jesus in Hebrews 1:9, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Jesus was anointed with joy, and that joy led and fed Him as He carried out His earthly mission. If Jesus had, expressed and followed joy, you can be assured that God has the same pattern for you to follow. Are you seeking and following your joy? Are you praying for it as David did?