a Quote:
“…how did the early Christians pray for joy? First, we may assume that they prayed the prayers of the only Bible that they had, namely, the Old Testament. Thus they would have prayed:
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14).
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice” (Ps. 51:8).
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Ps. 51:12).
“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us” (Ps. 90:15).
“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Ps. 85:6).
Don’t miss how radical these prayers are. They assume that we are unable to make ourselves satisfied in God. And they assume that God has the right to do it, is able to do it, and does it in answer to prayer.”
When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy
by John Piper
my Prayer:
Lord, I desperately want to delight only in You. Please help me love you. most.
the Word:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
the lyric.
“Breathe in me Your life. ‘Til Your love overtakes me
Open up my eyes. Let me see You more clearly
Falling on my knees, ’til I love like You love
Like You love me”
by Hillsong
[CLICK HERE to see a listing of all the blog posts in this series “the search for Joy.”]
Verse 6. – Wilt thou not revive us again! literally, wilt thou not return and revive us? (comp. Psalm 71:20 ). So Ezra prays God to “give Israel a little reviving in their bondage” ( Ezra 9:8 ). That thy people may rejoice in thee. The “revival” and “rejoicing” came in Nehemiah’s time, when the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem was kept “with gladness, both with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps” ( Nehemiah 12:27 ).