What has happened to all your joy? Gal. 4:15 (NIV)
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. Ps. 85:6-7 (NIV)
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24 (NIV)
Dear Lord Jesus, we begin our day grateful for your pursuing heart, revealed in the questions, wooings, and pleas of the Scriptures. Today we ponder our need gospel renewal and the restoration of joy. We join the chorus of many who cry out, “Revive us again, Lord, restore to us the joy of your salvation.”
In response to Paul’s question to the Galatians, “What has happened to all your joy?” (Gal. 4:15), there’s a wide range of possible answers, Jesus. Some of us may have fallen back into performance-based spirituality—trusting more in our ongoing feeble works than your perfect and finished work. Some of us may have allowed roots of bitterness to grow deep, infesting our renewed hearts with the toxins of unforgiveness and revenge.
Some of us may be giving greater audience to our fears, worries, and anxieties than to your nearness, sovereignty, and grace. Some of us could very well just be exhausted from life’s challenges, bouts with illness, and the price of loving well; and we’re just flat out tired. Some of us are losing sleep and peace because of the condemning accusations of the consummate liar, robber, and joy-murderer—the devil himself.
To every one of these scenarios, the answer is the same, more of you—a fresh sighting and heart-connection with you, Lord Jesus, as our full forgiveness and perfect righteousness, our sovereign King and most loving Bridegroom. Renew, refresh, and restore our hearts, in the wonders of your love and sufficiency of your grace.
Jesus, since you are praying for the fullness of your joy to be in us (John 17:13), we will live with anticipation and hope, for your prayers never fail. Fill us afresh with the inexpressible and glorious joy of the salvation you have won for us and will in us (1 Pet. 1:8-9). So very Amen we pray, in your trustworthy and triumphant name.
