Fearing the LORD -Psalms 128:1-4

"Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD."

Reap in Joy -Psalms 126:5-6

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Your Heart Shall Live -Psalms 69:32-36

"The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the LORD hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it."

Loads Us With Benefits -Psalms 68:19

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation."

The LORD Reigns! -Psalms 97:1

This simple promise can be easy to forget in our sin-filled world...our God is still in control!!!

"The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!"

In the Light of Your Countenance -Psalms 89:13-15

"You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance."

The Cheerful Giver -2 Corinthians 9:6-9

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace about toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.""

Father to the Fatherless -Psalms 68:4-6

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

Judge the People Righteously -Psalms 67:3-4

"Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth."

Praise You -Psalms 67:5-7

"Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him."

Crowning the Year with Goodness -Psalms 65:9-13

"You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it. You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth. You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothes with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing."

Surrounded by Mercy -Psalms 32:10-11

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"

Loving Righteousness and Hating Wickedness -Psalms 45:7

"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

Trust in the LORD -Psalms 21:1-7

This is a longer passage, but I thought it was important to share the last verse I picked out, as it gives perspective to all the other verses. The reason the king receives all of these promises is because He trusts in God.

Reading these promises is a great encouragement for us to do the same!

"The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his hearts' desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from You, and You gave it to him - Length of days forever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon him. For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved."

I also wanted to point out that I do not believe that these promises will necessarily be experienced in their entirety here on earth. Some of these promises find their fulfillment once we reach heaven.

And that just gives us something to look forward to.

Surrounded By A Shield -Psalms 5:11-12

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield."

Lasting Joy -Psalms 30:8-12

"I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: "What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

Light is Sown -Psalms 97:11-12

This is a continuation of yesterday's post:

"Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart."

What should our response be to this promise? Verse twelve tells us,

"Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy Name."