But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,

    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He made heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them.

    He keeps every promise forever.

He gives justice to the oppressed

    and food to the hungry.

The Lord frees the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

    The Lord loves the godly.

The Lord protects the foreigners among us.

    He cares for the orphans and widows,

    but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The Lord will reign forever.

    He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 146:5-10

Joy is so much more than a feeling; it’s a byproduct of putting our hope in God! This verse opens up declaring that God Himself is our Helper! That means He is not only aware of our circumstances but that He is actively working on our behalf. What a promise! The feats listed in this passage are just the beginning of the great and mighty things He has done, and He is STILL doing them today! So, no matter what you are facing today, take heart, God, your Helper, is working on your behalf. When you put your hope in Him, joy is your portion! Praise the Lord, indeed! 

Prayer:

God, I thank you for Your nearness and Your constant help in my life. You are a good God, and You know what You are doing! Thank You for all that You have already done in my life! I trust You with my life and all of its details. And once again, I place my hope in You! I declare that today, joy is my portion, in You! Amen.