Leaping for Joy

Psalms 34:1 ESV

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

I’m sure we can point to a lot of times in our lives where we were distressed, in trouble, had health issues, or maybe down in our spirits. During those times we didn’t feel like praising the Lord, but that is just the time when we need to lift up our voice in praise and honor to Him.

Someone asked me what to do when they were distressed in a situation. I said, (1) turn on some good praise and worship music, allow it to stir in your spirit. (2) Then read Psalms 34 and allow that to sink in deeply. (3) Then lay all those burdens down at the Lord’s feet and tell Him that you cannot handle these things, so you are going to give them to Him. Then turn around, walk away and leave those things with Jesus. When you have finished all of that, repeat steps 1 and 2.

Praise elevates the spirit in us. Malachi 4:2 says “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” We may not always feel like running and leaping like a calf let out of the stall, but when we trust in our Savior and give our burdens to Him and that healing begins to flow, we will feel like running and leaping for joy, at least in our spirit.

Prayer:

Lord, never let Your praise leave my heart or my lips. No matter the hour, help me praise You. No matter the sorrow or the pain, help me to praise You. When the healing comes, lift my spirit and let me leap for joy. In Your name Lord Jesus I pray, Amen!