“The joy of the Lord is my strength” is the song we sing with smiles on our faces as we gather to praise Him but do we really know what that means. David, a man after the heart of God explains this awesome, beyond human strength with attachments which include joy, peace, confidence, love, with living life to the full!  Troubles and trials happen on earth to all humans and they did to David certainly; but God’s strength comes full force to overcome our circumstances when we believe in God and know that He can and will help us without fail!  Since God never fails; God is our confidence through it all!  He is the one in whom we rejoice and “holler our hosannas” to with lifted hands toward heaven!

How great is our God! How great is His joy and victorious strength!  

Psalm 21

^1-7 Your strength, God, is the king’s strength.
    Helped, he’s hollering Hosannas.
You gave him exactly what he wanted;
    you didn’t hold back.
You filled his arms with gifts;
    you gave him a right royal welcome.
He wanted a good life; you gave it to him,
    and then made it a long life as a bonus.
You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud,
    then dressed him in rainbow colors.
You pile blessings on him;
    you make him glad when you smile.
Is it any wonder the king loves God?
    that he’s sticking with the Best?

^8-12 With a fistful of enemies in one hand
    and a fistful of haters in the other,
You radiate with such brilliance
    that they cringe as before a furnace.
Now the furnace swallows them whole,
    the fire eats them alive!
You purge the earth of their progeny,
    you wipe the slate clean.
All their evil schemes, the plots they cook up,
    have fizzled—every one.
You sent them packing;
    they couldn’t face you.

¹³ Show your strength, God, so no one can miss it.
    We are out singing the good news!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Let’s just pause to praise…

Water you turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind there’s no one like you, none like You!
Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like you none like You!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there’s no one like you, none like You!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

(Written and sung by Chris Tomlin who continues to write songs that connect people to the heart of Jesus and lead them to a greater worship of Him.)

Sing out the Good News of what God did for us through His Son, Jesus! Jesus IS the Good News sent by God!  Sing of the Gift of His Holy Spirit who guides us to Truth 24/7!  In a world where truth is hidden by unbelieving humans led of evil; God brings His Truth of salvation to the Light of Day, as demonstrated by Jesus’ sacrifice showing His love, mercy, and grace. 

Receive Jesus salvation with gladness and sing heartily for the joy of our strength is indeed the Lord!  He is our confidence to live for Him always and forever!

Let us pause to holler our hosannas—an old hymn of my youth—”Blessed Assurance”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

(Written by Fanny Jane Crosby, 1820-1915; Music by Phoebe Palmer Knapp, 1839-1908)

To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen