Psalm 84:2-5 (NLT), Psalm 84:7 (NLT), Psalm 84:10 (NLT)

After a long day at work, school or college there is something refreshing about coming home! Get the picture?

In the psalm today we read of joy in the house! Do you long to get into that place, that presence you can call home?

There is a real joy, refreshing, peace and strength renewed coming back into the presence of God – its like your spiritual home!

V2 & 10 – Where would you rather be? do you long to make your home with Father God? Imagine you have had a long tiring day and you just want to come home get refreshed, renew your strength! Do you know the Lord desires for you to make HIM your home where your strength is renewed and real joy will be experienced!

Compare where you’re spending your ‘home’ time today? Is it leading you into the joy of the Lord? Here is some of the characteristics of Joy:
Blessed (v4-5)
Peace (v6) even through troubled times
Strength renewed & growing (v5 & 7)
Wow factor (natural shouts of joy bursting out) (v2)
Refreshed (v6)
Set your minds on the things of God (v5)
Presence of God, appreciate and need more (v1 & v3b)

Spend some time hanging out with Father God today, make him YOUR HOME the place you run too! Ask Him to fill you with real JOY!

Psalm 47:1-2 (NIV), Psalm 47:4-5 (NIV), Psalm 47:9 (NIV)

When I reflect on this Psalm I am reminded of the song, “Can a nation be changed… Can a nation be turned back to you?” because this Psalm characterises the key element that will see our nations, cities, communities even our family changed!

What is Joy? What does it mean to know the Joy of the Lord?

When i consider most nations today with local economies in turmoil for example we can’t say our nations know joy, can we!?!

Here the call to God’s people! His Church! To Raise the Joy level!
1/ (v1,2) Proclaim the Joy of the Lord – declare! Shout aloud! Tell out the wonderous deeds (give testimony) to what He is doing!
2/ (v4) Know your inheritance is sure! A hope which is not uncertain but solid!
3/ (v5) declaring the Joy & hope that you have will effect people around you! It will influence nations & communities! Start in your family!
4/ (v9) let the joy rub off on those people of influence in your town, city, community that they may enquire of the Lord!

Live in the Joy of the Lord! Today write down your joy list! What are you thankful to God today? Go to your private place and shout it out to the heavens declare the joy of the Lord over you! For he is singing over you with shouts of joy!!