Psalm 4:7

Scripture:

Psalm 4:7 (ESV) “You have put more joy in my heart than [others] have when their grain and wine abound.” 

Observation:

Have you ever met a person that has a deep-down joy of the Lord no matter what is going on or how bad the trials are? Inner joy just radiates off them. That’s the kind of joy today’s verse speaks about. One night at the firehouse we got called to a bad fire. The house had been burning without anyone noticing and by the time we got there it was “fully involved.” As we worked the fire and slowly put it out I began to notice the family that lived in that house. They were on a neighbor’s porch watching their home burn down and yet they seemed almost joyful. The grandmother was holding one granddaughter, and the mother was holding a small child. Three others were at her feet. I watched them pray a few times and heard them Praising God that they were all safe. It didn’t matter to them they had lost most of their things. They had God, each other and their joy in the midst of trouble. I wonder if I would have been that joyful in that situation? What about you? We can be, but only when we allow God to put more joy in our hearts than any materialistic thing can.

Application:

• Personal Application: Continue spending time with the Lord daily. Sow righteousness and reap the fruit of God's unfailing love. 
• Family Devotional: Read this chapter to your family. Ask them if anything spoke to them as you read. Talk about their answers and show them that one important aspect of this chapter is that we must continue to spend time with the Lord and keep our hearts focused on His plans and purposes. Pray for them.

TOM SEMBER, with DAN KERSTEN. TOM SEMBER has been involved in ministering to men for over 20 years. He is an ordained minister with the AG in the NY Ministry Network. Tom lives with his wife, Carolyn, and children in New York. You can connect with Tom on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. DAN KERSTEN is director of development and communications for Men’s Ministries and Light for the Lost with the U.S. Assemblies of God. Dan has also been a ‘missions journalist’ since 2004. He is an ordained minister with the Southern Missouri District of the AG and lives in Springfield, MO with his wife, Tara, and son, Omar. Connect with Dan on Facebook.