“For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.” (Psalm 92:4, NIV)

We grow to be like those we love. We will resemble what we worship.

I can so easily dwell in the slough of despond, as Pilgrim’s Progress would describe it…or around its boggy edges. But the psalm writer here we always have the opportunity to turn our attention to what God has done, what he has given us…there is no end to his goodness.

Acknowledging what he has done; how he has rescued us; all that he gives us…cannot but lead us to joy. For me it makes me sing; maybe for you it makes you smile or want to create.

The note that heads this psalm is that is written ‘For the Sabbath Day’. Believers gather together and acknowledge together what God has done and what he’s like. So even if we don’t naturally look up and praise God for who he is, we can learn how good it is to do so by the encouragement of doing it with the company of others who are seeking God and discovering him.

No-one knew God as well as Jesus knew his heavenly Father. He must have been the most joyful person on earth. He was free of sin. So he did not hold grudges. He forgave. His connection with God was total. He made sure he had his Sabbath rest and his fellowship. He knew who he was and spent his time doing what his heavenly father’s will. There’s nothing to stop us living that way too. God sent his holy spirit to dwell in us and enable us to live in the fullness of all his hopes and dreams for us.

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)