June 5

He rules forever by His power; His eyes watch the nations. Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah — Ps 66:7 BSB

We don’t always feel joyful, but we are commanded to count it as joy. The word "reckon" is a key term in Scripture. It’s the same word used when we’re told to consider ourselves dead to sin. We may be painfully aware of things within us that want to come back to life, but we are to treat ourselves as dead to them and neither fear nor obey our old nature. Likewise, we are to count the trials we face as blessings. We make a conscious decision to rejoice, saying, "My heart is fixed, Lord; I will sing and give praise." This rejoicing in faith will soon become a habit, and it will quickly bring the true spirit of gladness and spontaneous praise.

Even if the fig tree withers,
And there’s no fruit on the vine,
Though the labor of the olive fails,
And the fields produce nothing,
Though the flock is cut off from the fold,
And there are no cattle in the stalls,
Still, we will rejoice in the Lord,
And take joy in the God of our salvation.

Though the mountains crumble
And the earth itself is shaken,
Nothing can change His loving-kindness
Or His everlasting love.