When I make You my choice,
then my heart will rejoice,
safe, safe. . .
. . . safe in the joy of Your presence.
Photo by Sophia Kunkel on Unsplash
Part One: In Part One, we examined the importance of choosing to rejoice in hard times, as advised in the little verse above. In Part Two, we will see the benefits of rejoicing in the Lord. First, take time to briefly review Part One.
Safe in His presence. You might ask, “Safe from what?” Perhaps most relevant to this discussion is that you will be safe from fears, doubts and fretting. Did you know that fretting tends to evil?
“. . . fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.” (Psalm 37:8b, AMPC) This psalm warns against agitating (fretting) our own hearts because of evil and unrighteousness. Certainly, the daily news contains much evil and unrighteous behavior with which we could fret ourselves.
Why are we not to upset ourselves? Because if we “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord, and do good” we will live in the land.” “The land” often symbolizes God’s promises, provision, and presence.” Topical Bible: Living in the Land with Purpose) As we keep trusting Him, and doing good, God will be very faithful to us. He will “feed us with His faithfulness.” God emphasizes this promises by saying “truly, you shall be fed.”
Do not overlook the words “do good.” We trust the Lord and while we are trusting and waiting, we are not being idle. We are busy with Kingdom work, we are doing good, like Jesus, the perfect model for our behavior. “. . . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Take to time to ponder this verse again. Ask God what He wants you to see in these words: “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.” (Psalm 37:3, AMPC)
The manifold blessings of joy. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness—joy–is surely one of God’s greatest gifts to us humans. Remaining in the joy of the Lord is especially beneficial in these last of the last days. Why?
Joy causes numerous beneficial changes in body and mind. God wired us so that joy improves our mood and reduces stress. For fascinating details on this process, read the article “Happiness in the Body: Physical Sensations and Symptoms of Joy” at www.neurolaunch.com. The following information is paraphrased from this article, with quotation marks indicating direct quotes.
Happiness affects the entire body all at once. It makes you feel warm, relaxes your muscles and spreads energy throughout your body. The four feel good hormones our brain releases during joy each cause different physical sensations, including “rushes of pleasure . . . and feelings of calm.”
Joy is not just a mental phenomenon. Our chest feels fuller, our upper body relaxes, our breathing slows and we feel warmth as well as energy.
“Many people describe a surge of physical vitality during intense joy, an urge to move, to gesture, to laugh loudly, to hug someone. Your body doesn’t want to sit still with that much positive arousal running through it. This is part of why the outward behavioral signs of happiness, smiling, dancing, bouncing, aren’t performances. They’re pressure releases.” (emphasis added).
Further, the beneficial effect of these neurotransmitters and hormones lasts from a few minutes to days. As the article wisely points out: “Understanding what happiness does in the body isn’t just interesting. It can help you recognize, amplify, and return to joy more deliberately.”
Think about all God did for us when He gave us joy! And choose to be joyful! Choose to rejoice at what God has given us!
The joy of the Lord is our strength. In Nehemiah 8, the Israelites who had returned to Jerusalem after exile in Babylonia were grieved when they heard the law of the Lord and understood their sins. However, in Nehemiah 8:10, Ezra the priest encourages them, “‘Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’ This passage highlights the sustaining power of divine joy, which fortifies believers against despair and adversity.” Topical Bible: The Joy of the Lord in His People
This joy gives believers the strength to endure hardship because it is based on God’s presence and His promises. It is, as Psalm 97:11 says, “that inexpressible and glorious joy that comes from consciousness of His favor and protection.” (AMPC).
How many times does the Bible say rejoice? Many, many times. Why? Because rejoicing is one of the best things you can do for yourself, for others, and for God. God does not want you fretful and fearful. He earnestly desires that we turn from depending on the world, as Israel did in Isaiah 30:1-17, and return to resting and quietly, confidently trusting in Him. The entire time we are depending on the world or self, God earnestly waits to shower His love on us.
“. . . the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Isaiah 30:18, AMPC, emphasis added).
“Worry is believing God won’t get it right” someone said. Turn from worry. Choose to trust in Jesus. Make Him your choice today. You will be safe, safe, safe in the joy that comes from being aware of His presence and His provision. Truly, you will dwell in the land and truly you will be fed (Psalm 37:3).
Lift these words to the Lord. Make up your own melody, like happy little children. “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,” (Ephesians 5:19, NIV)
When I make You my choice,
then my heart will rejoice,
safe, safe. . .
. . . safe in the joy of Your presence.
Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash