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A MERRY HEART (III)
LORD’S DAY, MAY 2
James 5:13

Psalm 30:1-12

 

“Thou hast… girded me

with gladness…”

 

A MERRY HEART (III)
 
If, as we have seen, no worldly pursuit can yield a truly merry heart, how  then is the Christian to pursue true happiness?
 
A merry heart is full of praise. James exhorts us, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Christians, as spiritual people, ought to recognise the spiritual dimension of life. Before salvation, when we were afflicted, we did not think of prayer: we called on our friends; we panicked; we complained; we vented our frustrations or sought to drown our sorrows ‒ but now, after our eyes are opened, and we have entered into a new relationship with our God, affliction drives us to seek Him in prayer: and not as a desperate throw of the dice “in case anybody is listening,” or as a last resort; but immediately, in full faith and confidence.
 
The most distinctive mark of this spiritual consciousness and of this relationship, however, is displayed in our response, not to seasons of affliction, but to times of plenty. The latter are far more likely to dull our spiritual senses. Yet after tasting the grace of God, any good thing we experience in life should drive us to thank Him, and sing psalms attributing all glory and praise to Him. And really, it is this practice of praise that settles and establishes the peace and joy of our hearts! If we remember as the “benefits” of the Lord, His forgiveness and His tender mercies (Ps 103:1-5), how can sorrow ever overwhelm us, or happiness ever leave us? For whatever tempest rages in the material realm, yet in the spiritual dimension of life we are safe and secure.
 
Dear reader, just as the cares of life ought not to take our time away from God, but drive us all the more to Him: so also the temporary successes of life ought not to make us forget God or discard Him as unnecessary, but drive us all the more to praise Him! Let us therefore seek to cultivate this habit of praise, that we may sing with the psalmist, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent” (Ps 30:11-12).
 
THOUGHT: A “merry heart” cannot last without praising God.

PRAYER: (Ps 30:12)

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