My spellcheck decided to write God instead of ‘good’, and I figured it is a very accurate descriptor of what I wish for us all. Because it is God Who makes our day good, so it works. Are there other terms you would use to capture your wishes to others today? Let’s think about that as we Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Psalms 33:1 NIV
[1] Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Our Love Song to the Lord
We have unpacked the entire psalm, including our Nougat, reflecting on the Who, Why, and How – all in one of our Whens. For right now (i.e., when I’m writing, and all the times each of you read/is reading/will read and reflect on the Nougat or spend time in worship) is always a good time to praise God. We know that Adam and Eve, the first couple met with God in the cool of the day (see Genesis 3:8). David speaks of praising God seven times per day (read this in Psalm 119:164), while the Living Creatures around God’s Throne pray and praise continuously, which confirms that we can pray at any time. What is more important than the time we praise is that we do praise God and are consistent.
Self-Check
Is our prayer life consistent, and what can we do to improve it?
Deeper Dive
Recently, I read that joy is a state of deep contentment stemming from a sense of purpose and gratitude. In spiritual contexts, that gratitude and purpose is linked to God. Joyful praise is therefore our contented response to God, Who we recognise as our Source, Who created us with purpose, on purpose.
Knowing we are God’s chosen (the righteous), who have accepted God’s call on our lives, we truly have reason to praise God because we know Who God is.
Reverting to David’s when, many of us would baulk at seven times praise because we know that Life happens a lot between Son up and Son down. More so, when we decide to fill our waking hours with praise, because that’s when the distractions come. Everything will seem geared to steal our joy. A quick read through of the psalm indicates that there is never any situation suggested for us to be joy-less. Psalm 16:11 puts it succinctly, In God’s presence there is fullness of joy, at God’s right hand, pleasures forevermore.
This knowing comes from spending time with God. As God’s elect, we (should) have spent time in God’s presence. Once we’ve experienced the joy of the Lord, praise becomes a lifestyle, not a task. Ouch!
Point to Ponder
If joy is a byproduct of being in God’s presence, as well as that state of deep contentment stemming from a sense of purpose and gratitude, why do we allow ourselves to be tricked into joylessness?
What do we offer to others as the wish for today – good/God day, or something else?
