Tuesday, December 8th Pokee Shaner
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.[b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Psalm 126 speaks to us of what the Lord has done for us in saving us and it also reminds us that God has a plan to bless us and use us for His glory into the future. We should always remember where we were when the Lord found us, and how He delivered us from our lost condition by His matchless grace, He deserves our praise for setting us free, changing our lives and altering our destinies. We have been delivered from death and hell by the grace of God. Our names have been written down in glory. We are children of the living God! We have a reason to rejoice. Our hearts should be filled with His praise and that we would be vocal and quick to proclaim His goodness, His grace and His salvation. The Bible teaches us praise honors the Lord and we should be involved in praising Him. There is much to be fearful of in the world today. Crime, war, politics, disease, death, sin, evil, etc. all combine to cause our hearts to despair. However, if we can learn to keep our hearts focused on the Lord and all that He has done for us, it will go a long way toward giving us joy even in the midst of trials. After all, the Lord has promised His children joy. The bottom line is this: if you allow your happiness to depend on the circumstances around you, there is a good chance you will be sad and defeated. If, however, you make God and His gracious gifts the focus of your joy, then you can rejoice regardless of what is happening around you.