GIRDED WITH GLADNESS

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing: You have put off my sackcloth, and GIRDED ME WITH GLADNESS” – Psalm 30:11 (KJV)

GOD has purposed that His people be GIRDED with GLADNESS always: “You have put off my sackcloth, and GIRDED ME WITH GLADNESS” (v.11b). To be “girded” means to be clothed, arrayed or equipped. Our Father desires that we be girded with Gladness in every aspect of our lives – in all that we think, say or do, both in temporal and spiritual dimensions of life. Every activity we engage in must be reinforced with the attitude of Gladness. So, let’s ponder on why is Gladness so vital to our Faith-life as Believers.

Praise that heaven recognises is that which is girded with gladness: “For thus says the LORD: “Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!’” (Jer.31:7).

Kingdom-service must be girded with gladness. Serving God may be tantamount to nullity if it is lacking in gladness: “Serve the LORD with GLADNESS; come before His presence with singing” (Psa.100:2). Jehovah once warned His people concerning their service: “Because you do not SERVE the LORD your God with JOYFULNESS and with GLADNESS of HEART, for the abundance of all things; ….” (Dt.28:47). In particular, giving to God may be a waste if it is devoid of Gladness or Cheerfulness: “for God loves a CHEERFUL GIVER” (2Cor.9:7). Are you serving the Lord with Joyfulness and Gladness, grudgingly or merely as a routine duty?

Fellowship with the brethren – the communion of the saints – will be fruitful and rewarding only when it is done in GLADNESS and singleness of heart: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with GLADNESS and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46). Indeed, we are meant to welcome and embrace every true believer whose path crosses ours “with all gladness” (Phil2:29). Here, Paul instructed the Christians in the Church at Philippi to receive Epaphroditus “in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation.” Is your fellowship truly characterised by gladness?

When Gladness and Joy are gone from a life, that life is open to every form of negativity and demonic attacks. Scriptures paint the tragic picture of lives from which joy had been quenched and gladness had taken flight:  “Joy and gladness are taken from the plentiful field and from the land of Moab; I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses; no one will tread with joyous shouting –  a not joyous shouting” (Jer.48:33). May these never be our portions, in Jesus name! Joy and gladness shall never be banished from our lands; the sweet wine of the Holy Spirit shall never fail in our lives, and our joyous shouting shall never cease, in Jesus name!

While the righteous is rewarded with the release of gladness, the departure of gladness is often a consequence of unrighteousness. It is therefore profitable to take heed to divine warnings such as these:

“Gladness is taken away, and joy from the plentiful field; in the vineyards there shall be no singing, nor will there be shouting; no treaders will tread out wine in their presses; I have made their shouting cease” (Isa.16:10).

“Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall be desolate” (Jer.7:34)

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will cause to cease from this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride” (Jer.16:9).

Beloved, say with me: “Mourning has been turned into Joy for me. Gladness and joy will never be taken away from me. My joyous singing and shouting shall never be stopped. Voices of mirth, rejoicing and gladness will never cease from my domain. And my land will never be desolate, in Jesus’ name.”