Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
Come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Shouting for joy! Have you ever tried it? Perhaps you think, “I’m way too Presbyterian to do something so unruly!” This might be your day!

The Hebrew people knew a thing or two about shouting for joy to the LORD. One of the first things they did when they entered the Promised Land was shout. They were trying to conquer the first of many walled Canaanite cities. They silently marched around Jericho for six days and on the seventh day marched around it 7 times. Then they shouted! And God brought about a great victory.

God once described the scene at creation: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation… while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” With that, God kicked off a Great Adventure.

We’re told that there’s a shout at the New Creation too: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Hmmm, could be something to this shouting piece. Sometimes I shout on my prayer walks or in the sanctuary (when no one but God and the powers are listening!). Maybe this day of prayer could include a shout from you?

My favourite shout is “Jesus is LORD!” “His love endures forever” also works, as does “Christ is Risen.” You choose—just do it with joy.

Praying (and shouting!) with you this day.

Andrew