Shouts of Rejoicing

The psalmist opens and closes Psalm 97 with the same command: Rejoice in the Lord. Some modern translations use the word shout. And why are we told to rejoice? Because the Lord reigns. The Lord is King. That truly is a reason to rejoice, just knowing that our God and creator is in control, that He has all the power, and that He knows best! But if I’m really honest, I don’t do a very good job in rejoicing in the Lord. I don’t give God a shout out, if you will, very much. I’m quick to rejoice about other things in my life. Some things that get a shout:

· A letter that comes in the mail announcing a raise
· A game winning touchdown
· Finding $20 in your coat pocket at the beginning of the winter season
· An email announcing that offices will close early today
· An announcement that my budget is being more than doubled (that one even got a dance!)
· A rare phone call from a friend in China
· An unexpected gift
· A great ending to a TV show or movie
· Finding out a good meal is about to be served
· Finding a great deal at the store

The sad thing is all of these things are temporal. And when it comes down to it, after the moment passes, they aren’t very important or relevant. Why am I so willing to rejoice over the things that don’t matter and fail to rejoice in the one thing that does? Why is it so easy to be publicly and privately vocal about the petty things in life but it’s a struggle to publicly and privately rejoice before the Lord. Here’s a list of things that should get a shout in my life:
· Seeing a student, friend, or stranger accept Christ as Savior and Lord
· Discovering a new lesson in God’s word that is completely applicable to my current situation and struggles
· When God reveals a lesson in my circumstance that is undeniably from Him
· Having the opportunity and privilege of serving Him through my local church
· Having extra, unexpected time to spend in His word and just being with my King (instead of wasting it on stupid things)
· Having the opportunity to serve and encourage others
· Being placed in a situation where I can mentor someone in their relationship with God
· Seeing God’s power and beauty in His creation
· When God reveals Himself to me in a new song

Today, right now in this moment, I give God the shout out He deserves, not because of what He can give me or what He can do for me, but simply because of who He is! He is my King. I’m still discovering what that means, but the one thing I know is that He deserves my shout of rejoicing.