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
Gracious Father, we begin our Monday thankful for the clarity and candor of your Word. When you diagnosis a problem, you always resource your children with grace upon grace. Today we are grateful for the hope of gospel renewal and restoration of our joy. We join the chorus of many who cry out, “Revive us again.”
The apostle Paul ask believers in Galatia, “What has happened to all your joy?” (Gal. 4:15). The possibilities are numerous. The believers in Galatia were slipping back into legalism—a true joy killer. Unbelief certainly sabotages joy. Are we looking for joy somewhere else than in you? Are we angry at you, and don’t want to admit it? Are we living more by fear than faith? Show us.
Father, since your joy is our strength (Neh. 8:10), cause our heart muscle to beat afresh with your joy—the joy which fills the courts of heaven and the relationship you’ve always enjoyed with the Spirit and Jesus. Indeed, Holy Spirit, since joy is one of the fruit you are an expert at growing, please weed, prune, and fertilize ours heart for a fresh crop—a bumper crop.
Finally, Lord Jesus, since you are praying for the fullness of your joy to be in us (John 17:13), we will live this week with anticipation and hope, for your prayers never fail. Though we’ve never seen you, we love you; and we love you because you first loved us and gave yourself for us on the cross. Fill us afresh with the “inexpressible and glorious joy” that comes from belonging to you and knowing you love, cherish, and rejoice in us (1 Pet. 1:8–9). So very Amen we pray, in your trustworthy and triumphant name.
