Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
Psalm 146:5-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Reflect
On my first look at this scripture passage, my eyes lingered over the word “Happy.” In fact, it looked like it was highlighted – you know – like those neon signs designed to catch your attention. The word brought back memories. From June 2001 to June 2002, I served as the CPW Convention President with the theme of “Celebrate Christ’s Joy in Our Lives.” I traveled around the denomination, striving to encourage the women by speaking on this theme. To do this, I researched what being happy is. Our society links happy and joy together, but they are not the same. I learned happiness is a temporary emotion dependent on circumstances while joy is described as a feeling of kindness, love, and goodness. But now to our Scripture passage that tells us we are happy when our help and hope is in God. I don’t know what the word in the original language was but the Christian understanding of being happy is having joy. A true joy doesn’t come from what we do or is a result of circumstances; it is contentment despite circumstances. That is what the Psalmist is telling us here – God gives us happiness when we place our faith in Him.
Pray
God, Thank You for the gift of happiness and joy. Remind us to share that gift with others we meet as we go about our daily routines.
Go with God!
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