Voice Your Joy
Perhaps what I love most about the Psalms of David is how he always finds the space to voice his joy in God, during his prayers. We read, "The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!" (Psalm 64:10 NIV11)
This is all-important, so don't miss it. We keep praying not so that God can do what we want Him to, but because we love Him for who He is. Our Father. Our Saviour. Our Friend.
That is what gives us joy - He gives us joy by being our God, not by being our genie!
The True Purpose of Prayer
I am convinced that the purpose of our prayers is not to get God to answer our requests. It's to connect with God and have our souls find joy in Him! Yes, we bring our requests anyway because He is able and we trust Him. Yes, absolutely! But the primary purpose of prayer is not to get God's provisions, it's to get God! When God Himself is our joy, then prayer is wonderful whether we have or have not.
So David says that he will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him, and glory in God. That's how we keep praying! That's what made Agur say "I am weary, God, but I can prevail." That's what makes people like you and me fall on our knees day by day by day, in good times and in bad and say "blessed be the name of the Lord! How I love Him!" even through tears.
Derl Keefer says this: "Joy is the ever-abiding confidence that all is well, regardless of the outward circumstances, because our loving God is in control. You can be sick, yet joyful. Handicapped, yet joyful. Attacked, yet joyful."
Joy in God's Presence
Are you able to fall on your knees today and say "all is well, even though I am sick, struggling, attacked?"
Keep praying.
Keep praying with joy.
Keep throwing yourself into the Father's open arms with joy!
Keep holding onto Him joyfully even as your heart aches and your mind struggles!
There is joy in God's presence, but there is only emptiness apart from Him. Come to God in prayer, and tell Him you love Him. Ask Him to make your heart glad! Tell Him that you need the joy of the Lord to be your strength! Tell Him that you won't leave your prayer time until there is joy in your heart!
Persevere in prayer today, tomorrow, and each day. Surely, like David, you will find your joy increasing as you do.
The primary purpose of prayer is not to receive God's provisions but to receive God Himself. Fall on your knees today with joy, holding onto Him even as your heart aches, knowing that joy comes from His presence alone.