The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Exulting Heart
There are many praiseworthy places in Canada – the whole world recognizes our country for its natural beauty. One list of best places in Canada includes Baffin Island, for its Inuit art and incredible landscapes. The website says, “The island’s crown jewel is Auyuittuq National Park – its name means “the land that never melts,” and indeed glaciers, fjords and vertiginous cliffs fill the eastern expanse. The park is a siren call for hardcore hikers and climbers – and more than a few polar bears.
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There is a word for expressing pure joy that we don’t use anymore – it is exulting. This sounds like another word – exalt – which means to praise or lift up, but exulting means something else altogether. Christians are called to both – to exalt Jesus, to lift Him up – and to exult – to express pure joy. In Psalm 28:7 we read, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” The Psalmist here both exalts and exults. He lifts up the name of the Lord, who is His strength and shield. The Lord gives Him the strength to get through every day and is the One in whom he hides when the challenging times of life come. He exalts the Lord. But then he exults – his heart leaps for joy. When the Psalmist considers all the Lord does for Him, it leads to exultation – to unbridled praise. Lift up the Lord Jesus in all you do today – exalt him. And express the pure joy that He gives you – that’s exultation.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley