Psalm 119:1-8
“Joyful are people of integrity, 
who follow the instructions of the Lord. 
Joyful are those who obey his laws 
and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, 
and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 
Oh, that my actions would consistently 
reflect your decrees! 
Then I will not be ashamed 
when I compare my life with your commands.
As I learn your righteous regulations, 
I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!” (NLT)

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Joy is more a matter of aligning and attuning our hearts with God than with how we think or what we experience. Joy is released in us and through us when we apprehend and appropriate God’s good instructions and the blessings that overflow from them. 

Joy comes from following Gods instructions and obeying his laws (verses 1 and 2). It comes from seeking God with all of our hearts (verse 2). 

Joy comes from avoiding compromising with evil and from walking only in the paths God lays out for us (verse 3).

Comparison, it has been said, is the thief of joy. This is true when we compare ourselves against others and our idealized selves. Joy overflows, however, when we look at our lives in comparison with God’s commands and realize we are doing what he says and enjoying the fruit of his will and ways. (See verse 6.)

We express gratitude to God not only by giving thanks, but by living thanks (verse 7). Obedience is a choice (verse 8). It is a choice resulting in overflowing joy and goodness. None of us are perfectly aligned and attuned with God, even when we try very hard to be. The poet placed his pen on the lambskin, with a bottom line that we can all pray honestly and earnestly, trusting God to hear and answer. He wrote, “Please don’t give up on me!”

The Christian Standard Bible translates this sentence this way: “never abandon me.” 

The New English Translation says, “Do not completely abandon me.” 

The New International Version says, “do not utterly forsake me.” 

The Message says, “don’t ever walk off and leave me.”

Failure is not fatal unless we give up, give in, and give ourselves over to ultimate disobedience. Our gracious God is forgiving. He empowers us to begin again more intelligently. He is perfectly patient, perfectly loving, and perfectly restores us when we turn back to him.

He never gives up on us. He always makes it possible for us to turn our hearts toward home. He runs to meet us when we come to our senses and return to the path toward his loving arms. (See Luke 15:11-32.)

Joy can shape our story.

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I will choose joy.

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Our Father, I want to be a person of integrity who follows your instructions, who obeys your lows, and who searches for you with all of my heart. I want to avoid all sinful compromise and walk only upon the paths you lay about before me. I want to keep your commandments so that my every action consistently reflects your instructions. I want to stand up to scrutiny when I compare my life with your commands. I want to express my gratitude through what I say and how I live. I will live a life of joyful obedience. Please don’t give up on me when I fall short of my declaration and intention. Help me to begin again more intelligently when I recognize my wrong. Amen.