Closing out this week, we’re going to be talking about the importance of focusing on Jesus as the problem solver in order to unlock joy and gratitude in life. Seeking Jesus leads to finding joy, just as David did in the Psalms. Satisfaction and joy comes from being close to God… Stay connected to Him for your daily serving of joy! Let’s dive into Psalm 63, where David expresses his longing for God’s presence, and praises Him for His love and power.
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Transcription:
It’s amazing what happens when you take your eyes off your problems and put them on the problem solver. So often it unlocks joy and gratitude in your life. Hi, it’s Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. It’s Friday so you know it’s time for Joy Bombs in the Psalms and today is a real joy bomb because all this week you and I have been looking at the different puzzle pieces of joy. When you put ’em together, you realize it all adds up to Jesus. The picture of the puzzle is his face; his beautiful face. Every time you seek Jesus, you are going to find joy. And it may not surprise you because so often we find David on Fridays because he wrote so many of the most beautiful Psalms in the Bible. No matter where he was physically or emotionally or spiritually, he was always looking to God. He was always connecting with God, and sometimes it took him a minute or two, but he always found the joy. There are so many Psalms where he begins writing, God help. I’m so discouraged, and by the time the Psalm wraps up, he’s praising God. Man! He was so good at being honest with God, and that is one of my goals, just getting real with him about whatever is on my heart. And this spend a few minutes in his presence and you just feel better. So are you ready? Dive with me into Psalm 63. This is a Psalm of David and the Bible says, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah, right? Last week on the Bible for busy people, we talked about how hard it can be when we find ourselves in a wilderness season in our lives. So here comes David looking for Jesus and ready to find joy. I just want to take a moment and just pray and we know the Lord is with us because he is the Word, but I just want to invite him today.
Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus and we are seeking you right now. My friend who’s listening to myself, we long for your joy to fill us to the brim, till our cups are overflowing. Thank you for your word. Thank you for your promises and most of all, thank you for your love. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Alright, Psalm 63, now, verse one,
O God, you are my God;
David writes.
I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for youin this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Now, remember David was in the physical wilderness of Judah, but don’t you often feel like that when you’re in a spiritual wilderness type of season, where you’re parched spiritually? You feel like you got nothing, you’re running on empty on fumes. So I don’t know these words of David really resonate with me. Verse two, now.
I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. 9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. 10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. 11 But the king
David, of course, writing of himself.
will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.
David starts out, “Man, I’m in a dry and weary land where there is no water” and he begins to remember the power and the might and the love of God. He reminds himself and down through the many centuries, he reminds us that we can reconnect with God and fill back up to the brim with joy. I love how he says, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast.” See, God wants to satisfy us. Think of it this way, this is what I’m picturing. You’re at your favorite breakfast place and the server comes by over and over to offer you more coffee. Here have some more, have some more. That’s Jesus. He’s always offering us more joy. All day, all the time. He is our helper and I love verse seven when David talks about how he sings for joy in the shadow of God’s wings. This is a reference to one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible, from Psalm 91, 4, which I believe David also wrote. [Remember I’m not a theologian.] I think he wrote Psalm 91, but listen to this.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.
Isn’t that the most beautiful picture? God is so tender toward us. You are going to sing for joy in the shadow of his wings, but catch what he’s saying. If you are in somebody’s shadow, you must be close to them. So, let’s stay close to Jesus. Let’s stay right there in the shadow of his wonderful wings of protection and love. Let’s stay connected to him. I believe with all my heart, if we do that, you and I are going to find joy every day. Until next time, you are really loved.
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