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)
Lord Jesus, we begin our day grateful for your pursuing heart, revealed in the questions, wooing’s, and pleas of these Scriptures. May we take our joy as seriously as you do. 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 feeble efforts than your finished work. Some of us may have fertilized roots of bitterness in our hearts with Miracle Grow, poisoning our joy with resentment, anger, and unforgiveness.
Some of us may be giving greater audience to our fears and worries than to the gospel and your glory. Some of us are emotionally exhausted from bouts with illness, the price of loving well, or the drains of doing ministry. Some are paralyzed by the condemning accusations of the devil—the consummate faith-thief and joy-robber. Still others of us have been way more preoccupied with the chaos in Washington than the consolation of your enthronement.
For each of these scenarios, the resolve is the same. We need a fresh heart-connection with you, Lord Jesus. In you we have full forgiveness and perfect righteousness, a sovereign King and a most loving Bridegroom, present shepherding and living hope. Jesus, renew, refresh, and restore our hearts, with the wonders of your love and the sufficiency of your grace.
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 desire to be in us (1 Pet. 1:8-9). So very Amen we pray, in your kind and triumphant name.