"...my mouth will praise you with joyful lips
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me."
Psalm 63:5-8
Think back to something God has done...something that would not have happened had it not been for his intervention, guidance, presence or power. We can name many instances, can we not? Psalm 63 is one of my favorite, and there are actually several portions of it that could be highlighted. It is so rich! But I've chosen these verses for the joy they bring as I meditate upon them remembering God's goodness and many, many mercies toward me.
What a wonderful place to abide...in the shadow of God's wings...under his protective and watchful eye, close to his heart. That alone is great reason to be joyful. As believers we are blessed with this close position to God through his grace alone. He has invited us to be in relationship and the benefits of that relationship are like no other. No doubt we can recount story after story of when he was our help. Once we trust in God's son, Jesus, we desire a close, abiding relationship...we literally CLING to Jesus.
During many nights I could feel his right hand holding me close, holding me tightly, reassuring...steady...strong. Who wouldn't cling to that, right? God often wakes me in the "watches of the night" to pray for someone, to commune with him, to search his Word for wisdom and help. I feel especially close to him at night. I know he watches over me, protects me, and prepares the day in front of me so I will see him working on my behalf.
One of the many reasons I sing for joy, is that I know my God defends me, fights for me. I know there have been numerous times the enemy would creep into my night seeking to frighten, discourage, and bring despair. But God fought for me. There have been times in my life when people...people whose hearts were bent toward evil and destruction came against me. I LOVE the passage in Psalm 64 on the facing page. Here David describes enemies coming against him, setting traps of ambush, shooting arrows with bitter lies and destructive words. I've known people like this. Being in full-time ministry places you in enemy territory many times. People will gnash their teeth against those proclaiming the gospel and reaching the lost for Christ. My husband, a pastor, and I have experienced warfare many times. But God has come to our defense in every single instance. We see him dealing with those who come against us. We don't have to do a thing but trust in him. What a cause for joy!
I pray that you find shelter under the wing of the Most High God, that you find many reasons to remember and celebrate with joy the times he has come to your aid, upheld you with his right hand. Knowing he has been there for us, faithfully providing and protecting, gives us full assurance he will ALWAYS be there for us. And that indeed is a reason to sing for joy!
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