What has happened to all your joy? Gal. 4:15 (NIV)
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. Ps. 85:6-7 (NIV)
Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24 (NIV)
Dear Lord Jesus, we begin our day grateful for your pursuing heart, revealed in the questions, wooing’s, and pleas of the Scriptures. Today we ponder our need for the restoration of our joy. We join the chorus of many who cry out, “Revive us again, Lord, restore to us the joy of your salvation.”
In response to Paul’s question to the Galatians, “What has happened to all your joy?” (Gal. 4:15), there’s a wide range of possible answers, Jesus. Some of us may have fallen back into performance-based spirituality—trusting more in our feeble efforts than your finished work. Some of us may have allowed roots of bitterness to grow uncontested, infecting our hearts with unforgiveness and revenge.
Some of us may be giving greater audience to our fears and worries than to the gospel and your nearness. Some of us are emotionally exhausted from life’s challenges or bouts with illness, the price of loving well or the drains of doing ministry. Some of are paralyzed by the condemning accusations of the devil—the consummate faith-thief and joy-robber.
For each of these scenarios, the resolve is the same. We need more of you—a fresh heart-connection with you, Lord Jesus. In you we have full forgiveness and perfect righteousness, a sovereign King and a most loving Bridegroom, present shepherding and living hope. Jesus, renew, refresh, and restore our hearts, by the wonders of your love and the sufficiency of your grace.
Since you are praying for the fullness of your joy to be in us (John 17:13), we will live with anticipation and hope, for your prayers never fail. Fill us afresh with the inexpressible and glorious joy of the salvation you have won for us, and desire to be in us (1 Pet. 1:8-9). So very Amen we pray, in your kind and triumphant name.