A Prayer for Joy

original photo by frialove

There are times when I feel really discouraged or a sense of hopelessness looms like a black cloud over my head, in regards to a multitude of things. It can be hard to keep a heart of joy when circumstances point to otherwise. And yet, Scripture reminds us that we’re to praise God regardless of our situation and to be content with and thankful for our lot.

From many of these Scriptural truths, I pulled together a prayer for an unconditional heart of joy and praise toward God:

Dear Lord,

I commit even now to sing to you a new song of thanks and rejoice in You in my heart as I trust in Your holy name. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--I, whom you have redeemed. I will rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: I rejoice!

You tend to me like my shepherd, letting me rest in green pastures and renewing my strength and guiding me and comforting me. You hold me like a lamb in your arms, carrying me close to your heart. I sing for joy at the works of your hands, my LORD. You have done great things for [me] and [I am] filled with joy. So I will go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, knowing that I will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves of harvest and blessing with me. I will forget about what’s happened and stop going over old history. I know that joy comes in the morning. I am alert and present to what God is doing now. He is about to do something brand new; it’s bursting out and I’m about to see it!

I rest in You and wait patiently for You. Lord, You are my strength and your joy strengthens my spirit. Lord, with a song of thanksgiving on my lips, I praise you and release everything I have as an offering to you—my life is yours to control, to guide, to redeem. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord alone.

I come to you in praise and joy and in submission to Your will and Your ways. I love you. Amen.

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