Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
But not because he wants us to be hurt. He wants us to be healed. This is a necessary step because of how we cling to that which is bad for us. Having our grip on it pried open is painful but we must let go.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
We must recognize that the joy of salvation is worth more than these things to which we cling. Not only that but we must depend completely on the LORD for healing. We try to have the right disposition but we must beg:
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
He is the one who washes us. He is the one who sustains a willing spirit within us. We do not do this on our own. But do not despair. He stands ready to sustain us right now. We do not have to wait until some future time when he is finally ready to help us.
Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.
behold, now is the day of salvation.
This is about what happens in our hearts. We cry out and the LORD answers. The trouble is that sometimes we don't know to cry out. We think things are under control when that is far from the truth. Sometimes we cry out only because we want to keep up appearances. We do the things we think a Christian should do but instead of surrender it is just one more thing we control. But the LORD is concerned with what happens in secret, and he stands ready to reward us. Only in that reward is true joy. If we open our lips to proclaim our own joy it is really little more than affectation. Instead, we ask:
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
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