Rejoice in the Lord

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Samuel 1:18 She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Elkanah had two wives and Hannah was the more favored wife although she was barren. The other wife, Peninah, provoked Hannah every time they went to the temple. Hannah, out of her grief stands up and prays a vow to the Lord saying that if He would give her a son that she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life and no razor would be used on his head. Hannah’s husband thought she was drunk when she was praying, but she made her heart and actions clear by explaining that she was indeed praying and pouring out her soul to the Lord. After she did that, she sat down and she was no longer downcast. Hannah had a deep trust in the Lord. She knew that He heard her prayer and there was no more need to keep grieving and wallowing in her feelings. Sure enough, the next day, the Lord fulfilled her prayer and she later gave birth to a son.

Samuel 2:1 Then Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn [a] is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.

This is Hannah’s prayer after Samuel, her son, is given over to the Lord to live and learn in the temple with the priests. Hannah says that her heart rejoices in the Lord. Pastor Larry said at staff meeting that to rejoice is to joy again. Hannah returned to her joy in the Lord. She chose to delight in the Lord’s deliverance.

2 Corinthians 7:4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

Paul tells the Corinthians that in all troubles he is overflowing with joy. Joy is something that we need to choose for ourselves. We can choose joy when we trust in the Lord.

My soul is downcast at times because I feel like I’m giving up all this junk to God but the junk still bothers me. I want to be like Hannah and just trust in the Lord. I want to believe in my heart that the Lord’s promises are as good as done. But I have to admit, I have a huge flaw in my character, I wallow in self pity. I pray over and over to God to take away this wandering mind. I want to focus and concentrate only on the Lord. Instead I find that I’m just trying to convince myself and God that I really don’t want to remember those things anymore. I have to realize that God knows that I don’t want to remember those past mistakes anymore and He will deliver me. But if I never delight in His deliverance, I won’t be able to return to my joy in the Lord again. Today, I will return to my joy in the Lord. I don’t want my soul to be downcast anymore. I can have a joy that knows no bounds. I need to trust in the Lord.

Heavenly Father, creator of all things, thank You for being trustworthy. Lord, I return to my joy in You today. I will not be downcast anymore. No more pity parties, Lord. I claim that boundary-less joy for myself. I trust in You, Lord. Jesus, thank You for loving me and living in me. May all things that bring You joy bring me joy as well. Today, may I dwell in Your presence continuously. I love You, Lord. Forgive me for dwelling in the past. Thank You for forgiving my past. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.