A Prayer About Jesus’ Gladness
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. 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.“ Hebrews 1:8-9
Lord Jesus, there’s really nothing that affects my life more than how I think of you in the chambers of my heart. As the Holy Spirit continues to reveal more of your glory and grace to me the Scriptures I realize that I am just beginning to see why you are so worthy of our adoration, affection and allegiance. I fully anticipate saying the same thing ten thousand years into our shared life in the new heaven and new earth!
Today, in particular, I marvel at the thought of your being the King of kings and Lord of lords who is anointed with the oil of gladness-the very joy you have known throughout eternity in the rich intimacy and fellowship of the Trinity. How astonishing and freeing it is to associate your love of righteousness and your hatred of wickedness with a coronation of gladness! Indeed, your kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit! (Rom. 14:7)
As though that were not enough to richly encourage my heart today, I am undone to realize that you are asking the Father to fill me, and your whole beloved Bride, with the full measure of your joy! (John 17:13). Oh my! That is simply too much for me to comprehend, yet alone believe possible. So, once again, I cry, “Lord Jesus, I believe! Help my unbelief!”
As an object of your affection and a subject in your kingdom, live out your gladsome anointing through me today. Smite me with a big dose of gospel-sanity, when I give into servile fear, toxic self-pity, or ingrown whining.
Help me more deeply than ever, to love and work for righteousness, and more passionately than ever, to hate and resist wickedness. May your joy be the strength I need today to be someone who lives to the praise of the glory of your grace. So very Amen, I pray.
