November 13, Joy Required

Today’s reading: Psalms 61-65

“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy” - Psalm 65:8.

God expects His people to be joyful. This verse tells you that at the start and the end of each day, God looks for songs of joy from you. Regardless of whether or not your work is going well or your relationships are painful, God is worthy of joyful praise for who He is and what He does. This was such a serious requirement in God’s eyes that the Lord issued this warning to Israel:

Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

How do you start your day? How do you end it? Do you take time to acknowledge that God is the Lord? Are you careful to come before Him at least some of the time with joy instead of constant complaining, lamenting or petitioning?