“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Oh what joy does the salvation of Jesus bring to our lives. Salvation is simply the deliverance from the power of sin. Have you ever felt so far gone? At one point in your life, or maybe even now, you had the thought that with all the pain you have caused or the build up of anger and resentment, no one could help you? Let me briefly introduce you to David. David was a prime example of success and failure. His faith was tested numerous times and many times he failed, but yet he was described as being a man after God’s heart.

“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:22‬ ‭NKJV‬

How? What does that mean and how could David be a man after the heart of God, with all the charges of guilt and shame that stood right before his face? The verse above actually answers the question/ David had a deep desire to follow God’s will and do “everything” God wanted him to do, and he did. Just as some of us who transition from sin to a believer in Jesus, David fell hard. His one costly mistake is one that we hear about often, which led him to adultery, lying, and murder. This was his encounter with Bethsheba. After this encounter,  God sent his servant Nathan, to tell David about his wickedness. David did what most of us have a problem doing: David admitted that he was wrong. And not just that He had sinned, but that he sinned against God. Oftentimes we would rather save face, reputation and position, in front of people than fall to the ground, sincerely repent and have our soul to be reconciled with our Savior.

David did not wallow in his sin. He immediately prayed to God and this prayer and communication is recorded in Psalms 51. Specifically in verse 12, David recognized that he had lost the joy that the Salvation of God brings.

Sin robs us of the gladness received through God’s salvation. Joy is the key to our victory over sin.

What happened to the joy- the simple, basic, unconditional joy you once had when you first fell into the arms of Jesus after receiving salvation? 

Go back. 🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽

Trace where you lost the joy and find it.

• That joy keeps you humble.
• That joy keeps you faithful.
• That joy keeps you respectful.
• That joy keeps you mindful of where the Lord brought you from.
• That joy allows you to understand the power and might of God and His ability to keep us from falling and losing our joy.

Where is your joy?

God offers forgiveness and cleaning for all sin, through His Son, Jesus. Do not attempt to cover it; but rather confess and turn away from it.

The pain of revealing past mistakes is not worth the shame and anxiety of waiting for your sin to find you out.

“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers‬ ‭32:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬