The Dance of Joy

It's On My Heart...November 2009

Thanksgiving is finally upon us when we will gather with family and friends to thank the Lord for His blessings. As a nation we set aside one day to give thanks. But did you know that God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude everyday? 1 Thessalonians 5.18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 100. It's title is "For giving thanks." If you ever wondered why or how you could possibly give thanks in all circumstances, day in and day out, Psalm 100 gives us the answer. This psalm gives us two reasons why we should have an attitude of gratitude. First, the Lord is God (verse 3). We don't worship just anyone or anything. Our Lord is God. He is the Creator who made all things including us. We live in a world where it seems that most people don't know God or simply ignore Him. We're not here by accident but by His design. We're not an accident of mutation but designed uniquely and for a purpose. God takes special delight and joy in His creation, especially those who belong to Him. God promises those who love Him, that He will use all things for our greater good. He can do that because He is God.

Secondly, the Psalmist says the Lord is good (verse 5). God could have been a malicious tyrant full of evil. Someone who garnished joy in our suffering. Instead, we are reminded that God is a God that epitomizes all that is good and right. He acts with mercy and kindness towards all that He made. He cares for us. Forgives us. Loves us. In addition, He is faithful in His goodness towards us. When we encounter difficulties of life, know that it does not originate with God, but God can use it to refine us and achieve His higher purpose and calling in us.

The Psalmist, upon remembering that the Lord is God and that He is good, began to shout with joy. When my kids were little we would play board games. When one of them won, I would pick them up and do a dance of joy. They won the game. It was something to rejoice about. It became something that they looked forward to. Perhaps we need to do a dance of joy. In a pickle and don't know what to do? Your heavenly Father does. Look to Him for He is God and He is good. Do the dance of joy. Everything seemingly going the wrong way? Maybe its time for a dance of joy. Feeling not too victorious? Well Jesus has already won the victory. So do the dance for joy for His win. You'll be amazed at how quickly life and our attitudes change when we express joy to our Lord. Worn out? Can't dance? Ask your heavenly Father to pick you up and do the dance of joy. For our Father is God and He is good. And He loves you so.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Pete