Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit. - Psalm 51:12
I love the concept of joy. For the longest time in life I was enthusiastic about talking with others about the joy that they had in life. I think of joy as so much more than a feeling; it is a state of being. Joy is what helps us find the silver lining in every cloudy day, and gives our spirit’s the motivation to continue on, even when we are being pulled down every step of the way.
I love the concept of joy, and the psalmist teaches us this understanding of often needing to be restored to the “joy of Your salvation.”
This restoration is for us to be restored to the very point in which we were ensured of the salvation offered by God, and for us, in Christ. We come back to that moment when we were ensured of the eternal promise of heaven, and all the joy that flows from that place.
Then, there is the second part of this verse - “give me a willing spirit.” Joy becomes the easy part, it is the gift part. After we are reminded of the joy, comes my part; being willing to give, serve, or live into a calling that is greater than me.
In this teaching, it is easy to receive blessing and find joy. If we open our hearts and minds to understand we would see that every moment of every day is a blessing because we still have life, and breath, and people who love and care about us. However, sometimes we just aren’t as willing to want to do anything. Especially in times such as these, when we don’t feel as though there is anything to do.
Though we have joy, we meander around, and get by doing as little as possible, and give only when it is expected of us. But what if we were to pray this prayer every day? What if we were to ask God to give us a “willing spirit?” For God to enliven our spirits to be willing to live each moment as a blessing. It might mean we starting doing things we don’t, necessarily, want to do, but we know we have been called to do. In doing so, we may receive even more joy. Because what we truly find, is that joy is part of the spirit of God that is enlivening everything we do, if we would be aware of the blessing in it.
May God grant you a willing spirit to serve and to give as He is calling you to bless others as you have been blessed with joy.
Grace & Peace,
Sam