Daily Devotionals

Pressure Point Week 10: Tuesday

Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. James 5:13b

When are you most likely to pray? If you are like me, I have to fight against a tendency to pray during hard times or when I need help. Unfortunately, when we pray this way, we treat God like an ATM. When we pray only about our problems, we miss out on having a thriving relationship with God. Scripture calls us to pray at all times, including when we are happy.

 James encouraged readers to pray not only when they were distressed and needed help but also in times of joy. He wrote, in James 5, "Are any of you happy? You should sing praises" (verse 13). God does not just want to hear from us when we need help. He wants us to come to Him when we are happy and joyful, just like our friends and family members don't want us to only come to them when we are sad or need help. Therefore, we can and should pray to God when we feel happy and grateful for the gifts He has given us. 

Psalms 118 is a prayer to God during happy circumstances. In this chapter, the writer of this Psalm expressed praise to God. He wrote, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever" (verse 1). Through this prayer, He recalled all the times God took care of Him. He declared that God was with him and would always be with him.

Further along in his prayer, the Psalmist concluded, "This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (verse 24). Take note of the joy that shines through this verse! Psalmist knew that each day is a gift from God, and, as a result, he rejoiced. 

Are you happy today, friend? You should pray. You have a God who takes care of you and gives you many gifts. Turn to Him today and praise Him for His goodness out of the joy He has given you.

Moving toward action

Take a few minutes to follow James' instructions and the Psalmist's example in Psalm 118 and pray about what you are happy about today. Then, get outside and go for a walk as you pray. Tell God the things today that have made you happy, from the funny comment your child made to the encouragement you received at work. He wants to hear from you.

Going Deeper

Psalm 118:1-29

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

2 Let all Israel repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."
3 Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."
4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."

5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not let me die.

19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!

22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever."