God JOYfully Delights in Those Who Follow Him

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  It’s delightful to taste and it brings delight to the Lord when we share His joy with others!

            David was the writer of Psalm 37. In verses 21-24, he contrasted the wicked person with the righteous.  His main message is that we should trust in God and wait patiently for Him to act...regardless of what others are doing. Is there a message of joy in this passage?

“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.  If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”

            Did you hear that?  It’s the sound of JOY bubbling up! For the righteous people, that is!  David is reassuring us that God is FOR us…..His children, those who are trying to do right by obeying His commands...those who have Godly character.

  (Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible) You can tell a lot about a person’s character by the way he or she handles money.  The wicked person steals under the guise of borrowing, sometimes.  The righteous person gives generously to the needy.  The wicked person focuses on himself, while the righteous person unselfishly helps others.

            Joy is found in the truth that God delights in those who follow Him, trust Him and strive to do His will.  He watches over and makes firm every step of the righteous. 

            Let’s take God’s outstretched hand and allow Him to lead us along the path of righteousness which leads to JOY.