“…Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (James 5:13).
A clear sign of emotional and spiritual immaturity is when you only think of God during your difficult times in life. Fellowship with God is not intended to be an irregular, spasmodic thing.
While walking with God you will have hills and valleys, dark nights and cloudless days. When your step is light and the day is bright, God is not to be forgotten; rather, He is to be praised.
David’s response to such occasions in his life provides a worthy example to follow. When the certainty of life called gladness has come to visit, the man after God’s own heart praised God:
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Passionately. “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High…I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so, shall I be saved from my enemies” (Psalm 9:1-2; 18:1-3).
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Specifically. “The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears…I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets” (Psalm 18:4-6, 37-42).
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Gratefully: “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name…Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 18:46-49; 100:3-5).
Not only does God command you to sing His praises when you are glad and cheerful, He provides you with David’s example on how to do so.
When you are cheerful, sing praises like David did.
