Make a joyful noise

Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth; Sing forth the honor and glory of His name; make His praise glorious! Psalm 66:1-2 AMP

Today and tomorrow all around the earth there will be a joyful noise made unto God. A declaration sung of God's love, His grace, His authority and power. This Psalm goes on to say,

Say to God, How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power shall Your enemies submit themselves to You [with feigned and reluctant obedience]. All the earth shall bow down to You and sing [praises] to You; they shall praise Your name in song. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 66:3-4 AMP

I once heard a Pastor say that he regularly prayed that, some people he knew that didn't know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, would 'see God'. The Holy Spirit has since prompted me to pray a similar prayer, especially those in the midst of very difficult circumstances, that they would see God in the midst of those circumstances. 

But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honour because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favour) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. Hebrews 2:9 AMP

My prayer is that they would sense Jesus' love for them despite their pain and loss. That they would start to know that He understands their pain.

For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering]. Hebrews 2:18 AMP

I know how hard it can be to make a joyful noise unto God when everything around you is making anything but joyful sounds. But that is what God tells us to do - count it all joy - and doing exactly that creates a pathway to maturity and peace.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4 The Message

I know too that sometimes it can be a long very windy pathway, but sticking to the path and sticking with Jesus brings its own eternal rewards, and enables us to come to the place where we truly can say 'How awesome and fearfully glorious are Your works.'

Question for today, as we make a joyful noise today or tomorrow in celebration of the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, let's make each word a declaration from our heart of His goodness. And let's pray for those in our world who are yet to make that declaration, that they will see and receive the love of Jesus.

All together now - applause for God!

Sing songs to the tune of his glory,

set glory to the rhythms of his praise.

Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!"

When your enemies see you in action,

they slink off like scolded dogs.

The whole earth falls to its knees-

it worships you, sings to you,

can't stop enjoying your name and fame.

Psalm 66:1-4 The Message