Joy Comes in the Morning

Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5 (NKJV)

For our praise and proclamation, we will use Scripture verses from Psalm 30, Psalm 28 and Nehemiah to proclaim over our lives and to pray into. Psalm 30 is a Psalm of David sung at the dedication of the temple in 957 BC. The Psalm is a hymn of thanksgiving for answered prayers, for healing and restoration. It begins with exalting God for rescuing him from his enemies, restoring his health, and saving him from death (Psalm 30:1-3). He declares that lamentation, sadness and despair will be followed by joy.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NLT)

Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

The Psalm culminates in these two verses that once again declare God’s faithfulness in restoring us. His faithfulness in turning our sorrow into joyful dancing. When the Lord restores us, He removes our clothes of mourning. He takes it from us – our pain, despair, remorse, hopelessness, anxiety and fear. When He does this, He doesn’t leave us “naked.” He clothes us with His joy. Joy that leads to exuberant praise of Him. The joy of the Lord is not happiness. It is not contingent on events that make us feel good about our situation or ourselves. True joy is not a joy we can conjure up ourselves. True joy originates with God. It is rooted in Jesus and his salvation. It is rooted and anchored in who God is, in His unchangeable character. When we understand who God is – our Strength, Protector, Defender, Helper, Rescuer, Saviour, our hearts will leap with joy.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

Pray & Proclaim:

Lord, I look to You to turn my mourning into joyful dancing. I look to You to take away my clothes of mourning and clothe me with joy, so that I can sing praises to You. I will not be silent. I will declare what You have done. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever! I declare that my weeping, my sorrow may last through the night, but Your joy comes with the morning. I declare that as I sow in tears of sorrow and grief, I will reap in joy. You, Lord, are my Strength and Shield. You are my Saviour. I trust You to help me. I look to You to restore Your joy in my life. I pray that Your joy will be my strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)