February 1

Blessings Beyond Measure

“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Prov. 3:9,10).

Some of God’s promises are conditional. His promise of material blessing is one of them. In our text He promises to bless those who honor Him with what they own and with what they earn. When we give of our material possessions, God promises to bless us with material blessings. In Luke 6:38 we are told, “Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom . . .”
God has plenty of resources. He never experiences hard times. His bank never fails. His ships never break up on the rocks or get lost in a fog. He is able to bless us, and He will when we meet His conditions.
Sometimes God delivers His blessings in strange ways. Ravenous, black-winged birds brought food to Elijah in the wilderness. Bees put honey in a dead lion for Samson. A widow fed Elijah from an empty meal barrel. Jesus fed a multitude with a little boy’s lunch. Even adversity sometimes brings blessings. Never say anything is bad until God has finished with it. The swift dove of God’s blessings often swoops down to meet our needs when least expected.

February 2

Blessed Forgiveness

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin. . .” (2 Sam. 12:13).

Our text deals with three things: (1.) David’s sins; (2.) His confession; and (3.) God’s forgiveness.
David had sinned greatly. He had sinned against his position as king. He had sinned against Israel. He had sinned against Uriah and his wife, Bathsheba, and he had sinned against God. Like many today, he did not repent until his sin was discovered. Not until the prophet Nathen said, Thou art the man did David say, I have sinned against the Lord. Great as David’s sin was, God forgave him when he confessed.
God forgives the sins of His children today when they confess. It is when we hide our sins that we run into trouble. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Prov. 28:13). That wonderful verse in 1 John 1:9 tells us, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God has forgiveness for us today, but only when we confess every sin, known and unknown, can we experience His forgiveness. We should make it a practice to come into His presence daily to confess our sins and enjoy his blessings.

February 3

Having Fellowship With God

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. . . (James 4:8).

We can sense the presence of God when we wait silently before Him in prayer, but this is not easy in our rushing workaday lives. More often than not we drop on our knees and utter our usual brief prayer with no sense whatever of the presence of God. It takes time to commune with God.
Another way we can draw near to God is by reading, searching, and memorizing His Word. Reading the Bible is like mining for gold. There are precious promises that we may have overlooked in previous readings. There are times when a passage or a verse seems to leap from the page, and we know that it is God’s promise for us. When that happens we should claim the promise and make it our own.
We can also draw near to God by leaning upon Him. We need His wisdom, His guidance, and His power. Most of all we need the assurance of His presence.

February 4

Our Wilderness Journey

These all died in faith . . . and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb. 11:13).

In this chapter, the writer calls the honor roll of people who lived by faith in the past. They made life’s journey as pilgrims and strangers. We have to make the journey in the same way today. We are not citizens of this world. We are citizens of Heaven (Phil. 3:20. See center column). So we have to walk by faith.
We are not simply on a journey from the cradle to the grave; we are on a journey from the cradle to eternity. We are traveling through hostile territory. The world hates us as it hated our Saviour. So we must walk by faith.
We are ambassadors for Christ in this world (2 Cor. 5:20). An ambassador is a representative of his government in a foreign country. As ambassadors, we represent Christ. We must live like citizens of Heaven, and we are to endeavor to lead others to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. To be a true ambassador for Christ, we must walk with Him by faith.

February 5

Triumph Over Trials

. . . there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure (2 Cor. 12:7).

Paul’s thorn in his flesh must have been painful. He prayed three times for God to remove it, but God did not remove it. Instead, God gave him sufficient grace to bear the thorn. Paul learned that a painful thorn can serve a purpose. He came to realize that God allowed his thorn to keep him from being puffed up.
I once told a doctor about a person who had succeeded in spite of a severe handicap. The doctor remarked that the person probably succeeded because of the handicap. History is replete with examples of people who have succeeded in spite of handicaps.
Thomas Edison, the great inventor, was deaf. Fanny Crosby, the matchless songwriter, was blind. Isaac Watts, poet and writer of 697 hymns, was sickly. William Cowper, famous hymn writer and poet, was melancholy, Alexander Cruden, writer of the first complete Bible concordance, was mentally ill, Jacob, the son of Abraham, was lame.
Paul recognized this principle and wrote, . . . when I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor. 12:10). When we have trials we should not give up. Instead we should to do even more for God.

February 6

Precepts To Live By

BE not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them (Prov. 24:1).

The first part in our text has to do with attitude. Christians should never have the wrong attitude toward sinful people. We should not envy them when they prosper or when they appear to be enjoying life. Instead, we should feel sorry for them. They are having the only good times they will ever have. In eternity they will only have suffering. On the other hand, Christians are now having the worst time they will ever have. In eternity Christians will have glory and blessings beyond description.
The second thing in our text is about relationship. We should not become intimate friends with sinful people, and we should not spend a great deal of time with them. We should not be deceived into thinking that we can convert them by becoming close friends with them. Remember the old adage, “One rotten apple will spoil a bushel of good apples.”

February 7

Walk the Walk

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord . . . being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).

Today we have the catch phrase that says, “Walk the talk.” That is a good idea. We should never live beneath the profession we make. An even better phrase would be, “Talk the talk, and walk the walk.” In other words saved people ought to talk like Christians and walk like Christians. Our lives should be a testimony for the Lord every day.
We need to increase in the knowledge of God and be fruitful in good works. We can increase in the knowledge of God by reading and studying His Word. We can also learn more about God by associating with Godly people. We can learn much from those who walk intimately with the Lord. We can also learn by attending a church where a godly, experienced pastor preaches the Word of God. Being active in such a church will offer opportunities to become involved in good works, and that will help us to walk the walk.

February 8

Power To Witness

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . (Acts. 1:8).

God is a God of power. In the beginning He filled limitless space with blazing stars and whirling planets, and He made the beautiful world we live in. He holds the winds in His fists and the mighty oceans in the hollow of His hand. In the springtime He paints the flowers with all the colors of the rainbow. This God of creation is the loving Father of those who trust Him.
Our Saviour now has all power in Heaven and on earth, and He has promised to empower us through the Holy Spirit. Primarily this is power to win souls, but it is also power to live victoriously. We cannot live victoriously in our own strength, but we can have victory through Christ. Paul wrote, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13). We have the same Christ to strengthen us.
Through Christ we can conquer temptations and overcome difficulties. We can do more than we ever thought possible through Him. Things of earth may hinder us, but there is a law that is higher than the laws of nature; it is the law of faith. By faith we can accomplish things that are far-and-away beyond our own ability. Claim the power and the blessing, and have a victorious day, fruitful.

February 9

Showers of Blessings

. . . I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing (Ezek. 34:26).

The seasons are not always the same. There are dry seasons, cold seasons, hot seasons, and wet seasons. Some of the seasons are unpleasant, even harsh, but God makes them all work for our good.
Are you going through a bad season? Take heart. God has promised showers of blessings. Notice that showers is plural. You just have to believe and wait for the season of blessings to come your way. Do the dark clouds cover your sky? Wait for them to pass away. C. H. Spurgeon wrote, “Look up today, O parched spirit, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.” The poet, Longfellow wrote:

“Be still sad heart and cease repining.
Behind the cloud the sun’s still shining.
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain will fall.”

The sun is still shining. God is still on the throne, and the showers of blessings will come in due season. Trust Him and wait patiently for their coming.

February 10

God Is With Us

. . . I am with you, saith the LORD (Hag. 1:13).

One night at the beginning of a service, I heard the great evangelist, Gypsy Smith, say, “I have walked with the Lord intimately for many years. I feel His presence tonight, and He is well pleased with the service.”
It is said that when John Wesley was dying he said, “The best of all, God is with us.”
You do not have to be well-known to be aware of the presence of the Lord. His promises are for all of us, and we can all enjoy His presence and His blessings. Even when we are going through storms, He is with us. His presence can be more real than at any other time.
Are you lonely, discouraged, or troubled. Take heart. He is with you.

I Trust In God

I do not walk my way by sight,
Nor do I fear the coming night.
Though the future is unknown,
I trust in God alone,
For He is on the throne.
—LWA

February 11

Ours Is the Victory

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ . . . (2 Cor. 2:14).

The Apostle Paul had been through great trials, yet he wrote that we can always triumph in Christ. He had known arrests, imprisonments, scourings, stonings, shipwrecks, and more, but he remained confident.
God does not give a miracle when no miracle is needed. If He demonstrated His power with every change of the wind, we would not have to walk by faith. But God is present when we need Him. The fourth man, like unto the Son of God, did not walk with the three Hebrew children until they were cast into the fire of the furnace. That was when they needed Him, and that was when He walked with them.
Some of the most victorious people I have met have been those who were going through the greatest trials. A man, confined to his bed by crippling arthritis, gave a glowing testimony to all who entered his room. A lady on her deathbed had a shining face, a glowing smile, and an encouraging word for all who entered her room. A lady who had gone through repeated operations for brain tumor memorized much of the Bible. Truly God gives victory when it is needed.

February 12

Give Heed To Opportunity

THEREFORE we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (Heb. 2:1).

They say that opportunity knocks only once, but that is not true when it comes to being saved and serving the Lord. Opportunity to be saved knocks on the heart’s door of the unsaved again and again, but there comes a time when it knocks for the last time. Opportunity to be involved in the Lord’s work also comes again and again, but when we do not act the opportunity will slip away. We should give heed to our opportunities today.
Unsaved people can let opportunity after opportunity to be saved slip by. If they continue on that road, one day the last opportunity will slip away and they will never be saved.
The river of opportunity flows before the saved every day. If we only watch the river run past, we will never do the work God wants us to do. Once we know the will of God, we should plunge in and give our best in His service.

There is a line by us unseen
That crosses every path,
The hidden boundary between
God’s mercy and His wrath.
——Author Unknown

February 13

Musing

. . . while I was musing the fire burned . . . (Psm. 39:3).

King David sat before an open fire thinking. He thought of his frailties and of the shortness of life—and he prayed. Most of us, in thoughtful moments, consider eternal values.
We now live in the early years of the twenty-first century. Behind us are the dimming mists of past history, and before that prehistoric ages, obscure and muddied by the uncertain conjectures of science. But, not to be discouraged. We have the light of revelation. In the beginning God created . . .
From the day of creation the stream of humanity has flowed through the ages, ever widening until the present hour. That stream parts at a cross and becomes two streams, one larger than the other. The streams have flowed through darkness, storms, troubles and wars, and always a guiding light has pointed the way for those in the smaller stream.
Looking to the future, one stream of humanity will flow into the abyss. The other stream, clear as crystal and bright as polished silver, will flow into the glorious light of the presence of God. Eternal morning! God grant that in your musings you have that hope.

February 14

Rejoice Today

REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise in comely (fitting, pleasing, and beautiful) for the upright (Psm.33:1).

It is good to start the day with rejoicing. Even when we have troubles, trials, sickness, or sorrow, we can rejoice in the Lord. It is a blessing to be alive. It is great to have loved ones and friends, and it is wonderful to be saved. “REJOICE in the Lord.”
Jesus is our Saviour. God is our Father. The church is our sphere of activity. The saved are our brothers and sisters. We have the privilege of prayer, and we have the privilege of working for God. We are on our way to Heaven. “REJOICE in the Lord.”
Are you having a bad day? Whining and complaining will only make matters worse. Are your spirits low? Feeling sorry for yourself will make you feel worse. Change your mind and your attitude. Look for things to be thankful for. “REJOICE in the Lord.”

February 15

Comforting Truth

. . . I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me (2 Sam. 12:23)

King David’s child had died, but he comforted himself with the thought that one day he would see his child again. The following illustration may be of comfort to those who have lost loved ones.
One Sunday afternoon, years ago, I flew in a chartered plane from Lexington, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio to help organize a church. That was my first trip in a plane, and I found that I had to exercise a good deal of faith on the flight. I had to believe that the plane could fly, and I had to believe that the pilot knew how to fly it. But that was not the end of my faith. From the moment we took off, I was hopelessly lost, and I had to trust the pilot to find the way.
Near the end of our flight, I saw the Ohio River flowing down a valley. Beyond the river I say the skyline of Cincinnati. We would have to cross the river to reach the city, and when we did, I would be separated from loved ones I had left at home. Beyond the river friends were waiting for me. Soon I would be with them, and I would be busy for my Lord on the other side of the river. That brought to my mind the river that I will one day cross to the city of God, and it made Heaven seem very real and very near.
What a comfort it is to know that the loved ones we have lost are in the City of God and that one day we will join them.

February 16

Bearing the Burdens of Others

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

The law of Christ was given as a new commandment. The law states that we are to love one another as Christ loved us (John 13:34). Paul tells us that we fulfill that commandment when we bear one another’s burdens.
In an earlier day in our country, when we were not pressured and hurried as we are today, it was the general practice for neighbor to help neighbor. Even unsaved people helped their friends and neighbors in times of need. We need to return to that practice today. Especially those of us who love the Lord should bear the burdens of others.
Christ so loved us that He bore our sins on the cross. If we love others as He loved us, we will gladly share their burdens. There is no better way to be a living testimony than by bearing the burdens of others. There is no better way to share the burdens of the unsaved than to lead them to trust Christ as Saviour and to let Him bear their burdens.

February 17

The Value of Small Things

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands (2 Cor. 11:33).

Paul was saved from capture and possible death by a rope. His friends used a rope to lower him from a window in a basket. His great ministry might not have been possible without that rope.
Moses was preserved in a small, handmade ark.
When John Wesley was a child, two peasants formed a ladder and rescued him from an upstairs window of a burning house.
A sailor swam from a sinking ship to a Pacific island that was inhabited by cannibals. He carried ashore the Bible his mother had given him. Sixty years later a British ship stopped at the island and found churches, schools, and homes. That was because of the Bible the sailor had carried ashore. If the sailor had dropped the Bible in the ocean the people on the island would still have been cannibals.
Small decisions often alter the future of an individual or a family beyond anything expected. That it why it is so important to seek God’s leading in all that we do. God wants to bless us, but His greatest blessings are found in the center of His will.

February 18

Jesus Use Me

. . . God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Cor. 1:27).

God will use anyone who is willing to be used, and He often calls those who are not willing into His service. Moses is one such example.
Moses was a most unlikely prospect for the Lord’s work. As a young man he had attempted to better the lives of his kinsmen in Egypt and failed. He killed an Egyptian in the attempt, then had fled for his life. For forty years he lived on the back side of the desert and did nothing more important than herd sheep that did not belong to him. He married a women who was not an Israelite. That was something that God had forbidden. Moses was slow of speech and lacked self-confidence.
When God called him to return to Egypt and deliver His people, he refused to go and asked God to send someone else. Yet, despite all this, when Moses finally obeyed the Lord, he became a great leader. He is considered the greatest of the prophets, and he became the greatest law giver of all time.
The God who used Moses will use anyone who is willing to be used. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Let it be the day when you surrender to do the will of the Lord.

February 19

Blessed Assurance

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16).

One way to have assurance of salvation is to take God at His Word. For example, Jesus tells us that if we will come to Him He will not turn us away (John 6:37). When we come to Jesus and trust Him to save us, we can claim His promise, knowing that He will not break His Word. Thus we can know that we are saved. There are many other passages in the Bible that serve the same purpose.
Another way to know that we are saved is by the witness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, and that witness brings a feeling of peace and confidence. We are not saved by feelings, but knowing that we are saved does bring a good feeling. Even when we do not feel well, the peace of God abides with us. By faith we know we are saved whether we feel like it or not. By faith we can be as sure of Heaven as we will be when we get there. Knowing that we are saved enables us to live victoriously and to be a blessing to others.

February 20

Needed Light

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness (Psm. 18:28).

The Psalmist wrote of going through darkness, then added, “For thou wilt light my candle. . . .” That was a statement of faith. While still in darkness, he was trusting God for light to go through the darkness.
We walk by faith, but, even so, there are times when our sun of hope appears to go down, and we feel as if that we are walking in a fog without so much as the light of a single star upon our pathway. At such times, the light of a single candle would help. As God gave light to the Psalmist in his time of darkness, He will surely give light to us.
A candle has only a tiny flame, but it can light one’s way in total darkness. It does not take great faith to claim such a tiny flame from the God who commanded the light to shine in the morning of creation. The tiny light of the candle can be a faith-builder, and it can lead to the light of blessings as yet unseen. Trust God to light your candle today and to make you a light-bearer for others.

February 21

God’s Word Gives Victory

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psm. 119:11).

The 119th Psalm is unique. All but 3 of its 176 verses refers to the Word of God. The Word of God is referred to as the Law, the way of the Lord, His precepts, His statutes, His commandments, His righteous judgments, His Word and so forth.
This Psalm is unique in its structure. It has been called the Alphabet Psalm. It is divided into 22 divisions of 8 verses each. The first 8 verses begin with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the second with the second letter and so on through the entire Hebrew alphabet. That means that no matter how you spell it, the Word of God is there to help us. We can hide it in our hearts to give us strength to say “no” to temptation.
In the New Testament Jesus tells us that He is the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet (Rev. 1:8). He is the living Word of God, and He is everything we need in the earthly journey. The alphabet is all we need to spell every word in the dictionary, and Jesus is all we need to give meaning to all of life.

February 22

Dwelling At Bethel

. . . go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God . . . (Gen. 35:1).

Bethel means the house of God. After years of disobedience, Jacob was commanded to go to Bethel, to dwell there, and to make an alter there. It was to be his place of residence and his place of worship.
Years before Jacob had cheated his brother, Esau, out of his birthright and his blessing. Esau became so angry Jacob had to flee for his life. The first night away from home he slept at Bethel. That night he had seen a vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder that reached to Heaven. He recognized the presence of God, but he did not tarry there. Instead he went on to Haran, the place of halfway obedience. That was where Abraham stopped halfway on his journey to Canaan.
Jacob dwelt in Haran for a number of years. God blessed him there, but he also endured great hardships there. At last God called him to complete obedience.
We too can stop at a place of halfway obedience. God may bless us there, but we will have to pay a price for being out of His will. God’s greatest blessings are only available in the place of His choosing. Each of us go to our Bethel and dwell there. There, God will bless us in ways we never dreamed possible.

February 23

Victory Over Trials

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . . (1 Pet. 4:12).

It is not unusual for people to suffer or to have trials in this life. Because sin is in the world, suffering and sorrow are in the world. The Bible tells us that man “. . . is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).
All about us are people who are going through fiery trials. Many of them are Christians. They groan pain in this life, but they will shout the victory through eternity. The songwriter put it well when he wrote, “And the toils of the road will seem nothing, when I get to the end of the way.”
When trials come our way we should bear them patiently. Whining and whimpering only makes us feel worse, and it makes those around us miserable. We should not spread our misery around even if we do have enough to share with others.
When we are tried, we should draw near to the Lord and should trust Him for victory. Our attitude during trial will often determine the outcome. Trials can wear us down or they can make us grow stronger. No matter what goes wrong, keep on Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith . . . (Heb. 12:2).

February 24

How To Deal With Fear

. . . Fear not; I will help thee (Isa. 41:13).

It is human to fear. Children often cry out in fear when there is no cause for fear. In their fear they want someone to comfort them. The strong, loving arms of a parents will usually quiet them and make them forget their fear.
Our Heavenly Father knows that we have fears, and He wants to comfort us and give us victory over them. Throughout the Bible we find the phrase, “Fear not” again and again. In our text God not only told the people of Israel not to fear, He promised to help them. Surely God will help His children today just as He did in Old Testament days.
We often fear the unknown. It is well to remember that there is nothing unknown to God. When we cannot find our way, He can direct us. When we cannot find the solution to a problem, He can show us the solution. When we have problems with others, God can help us face the problems with a Christian spirit, and He can give us grace to pray for those who despitefully use us.

February 25

How To Please God

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death . . . he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:5, 6).

In Genesis 5:21 we are told that Enoch walked with God. His walk started by faith and continued by faith. We also should walk with God. To begin the walk with God we must believe that He exist. To continue the walk with Him we must believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Out text tells us that we cannot please God without faith. Enoch believed right and walked right. We can live victoriously today, just as Enoch did, and we can have a testimony that we please God.
When we please God, He will answer our prayers. In 1 John 3:22 we are told that God will answer our prayers if we keep His commandments and do things that are pleasing in His sight. The walk of faith is the walk of victory, and God rewards those who live to serve and please Him.

February 26

Steps To Victory

Delight thyself also in the LORD, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psm. 37:4).

This is a tremendous verse from a superb chapter. The chapter begins by telling us not to worry and continues by giving us steps to victory. These steps are like climbing a stairway. Verse 3 gives us two steps. Step one is, “Trust in the Lord.” Step 2 is, “Do good.” Verse 4 gives us step 3. It is, “Delight thyself also in the LORD.” Verse 5 gives us step 4. “Commit thy way unto the LORD.” We take step 5 in verse 7. There we reach the top of the stairs where we, “Rest in the LORD.”
Our text in the pivotal verse in this Psalm. The things we delight in is an index to our soul. We cannot commit our way to the Lord without first delighting in Him.
When we delight in things that are displeasing to the Lord, He has not promised to give us the desires of our heart. We must bring our desires into subjection to the Lord’s will and delight in Him before we can claim this promise. May God help you to climb the steps to victory today.

February 27

What To Do When Alone and In Need

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. . . . And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me (Gen. 32:24, 26).

Jacob was alone. It was night; he was in trouble, and he wrestled all night with an unnamed man. That must have been the longest, darkest night of his life. Finally, with the breaking of dawn, he claimed the blessing that changed his life.
Jacob’s experience was a picture of wrestling in prayer. The unnamed man was perhaps an angel or the Lord himself. Whoever the man was, he had the power to make Jacob lame. That meant that he was never again as strong as he had been before that night, and he was more dependant upon the Lord than before. His name was changed, and he was changed. After that trying night, he was a better servant of the Lord than he had ever been before.
Others have gone through long, lonely, trying nights. They too have wrestled with an adversary that was too strong for them. They too have called out for a blessing when it seemed that the dawning of a new day would never come. They too have found victory when it seemed there was no way of victory, and their trials made them better servants of the Lord. Trials can be stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks.

February 28

Bitter Sweet

How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? Psm. 137:4.

The people of Israel were exiled in far off Babylon. Memories of home filled their hearts with sorrow. They lost their song, and they hung their idle harps upon the willow trees. Their captors mocked them, saying, . . . Sing us one of the songs of Zion. They replied, How can we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land? This is a text that gets hold of our heartstrings.
Mingled with the memories of happy days in their old home, there had to be memories of their sins and of God’s judgment. They had to remember that sin had placed them in their present estate. The only way to get back their former joy was to get right with God. When they did, God turned again their captivity and their mouths were filled with laughter and singing (Psm. 126:1, 2).
We can lose our joy when we harbor unconfessed and unforgiven sin. We can regain our joy when we confess and forsake our sins. God wants us to stay close to Him. When we do, our mouths can be filled with laughter and with singing.

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