For the leader, A psalm of David
I
Lord, the king finds joy in your power;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you did not refuse the request of his lips.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings;
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you;
you gave it to him,
length of days forever.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you confer upon him.
You make him the pattern of blessings forever,
you gladden him with the joy of your face.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
stands firm through the mercy of the Most High.
II
Your hand will find all your enemies;
your right hand will find your foes!
At the time of your coming
you will make them a fiery furnace
Then the Lord in his anger will consume them,
devour them with fire.
Even their descendants you will wipe out from the earth,
their offspring from the human race.
Though they intend evil against you,
devising plots, they will not succeed,
For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bow.
III
Arise, Lord, in your power!
We will sing and chant the praise of your might.
Psalms 21:1-14
I love a good prayer of joy: “Lord, the king finds joy in your power.” Maybe we need to be a little more like the king. How often do we just sit back and bask in the power of the Lord?
Evidently, the king finds gladness in the joy of God’s face, and he trusts in the Lord. I need that kind of perspective on life! …especially the trust part. That is tricky.
Sometimes I think it is easier to feel that trust when things get really desperate, almost like it’s a last-ditch effort when I know there is no other hope. But do I remember to trust the Lord in the little things, too?
When I haven’t had a good night’s sleep and I’m on my way to school, do I trust the Lord to help me be the best teacher I can be? If my bank balance is looking a little low, do I trust that God will guide me to manage my money until pay day? Suppose I need to attend a social function that goes a bit outside my comfort zone. Do I trust Jesus to be by my side and bring me peace of mind?
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to continue his work saying, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) Did they immediately trust that they were prepared for such a task?
Luke takes us back to the scene of the Ascension in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus tells them, “you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you.” (Acts 1:8) We all receive that same gift, especially at Confirmation. Do we remember the presence of the Spirit? Do we lean on Him when we need him?
Let’s keep the Holy Spirit in our hearts today. We need to remember the gifts the Lord has given us. Then “we will sing and chant” our own prayers of thanksgiving.