The Secret Path to Spiritual Joy

Psalms 105:1-6 – “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call on His name; make known His deeds among the people! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones!”

Look closely at these verses. They are written as commands. At first glance, someone might think God sounds demanding or self-centered. But those who truly know Him understand that this is not the case at all. These commands are not about feeding God’s ego—they are for our benefit.

God’s very nature is love. He loves us with an everlasting and faithful love, and everything He does is ultimately for our good. When we read these verses through that understanding, we begin to see something beautiful.

The opening verses of Psalm 105 do not portray a harsh God demanding attention. Instead, they reveal a pathway that leads us into deeper spiritual growth, greater joy, and a stronger relationship with Him.

The journey begins with giving thanks. Notice that the psalm does not say we must always feel thankful. Feelings may come and go, especially during difficult seasons, but we can always choose to give thanks. Giving thanks causes us to stop and recognize the ways God is already working in our lives. Whether it is the breath in our lungs, food on our table, our family, His Word, or His daily provision, there is always something for which we can thank Him.

As we intentionally thank God, our attention shifts toward Him. We become more aware of His presence and His activity in our lives, which naturally leads us to call on His name. In both Hebrew and Greek thought, a person’s “name” represents their character and nature. So when we call on God’s name, we are calling on His goodness, faithfulness, mercy, strength, and love—whatever aspect of His character we need most in that moment.

Then, when God answers and shows Himself faithful, the next step is to “make known His deeds among the people.” We tell others what He has done. Sharing our testimony strengthens our own faith while also encouraging the faith of others. As we reflect on His goodness, our hearts are stirred to praise Him, whether through spoken words or songs of worship.

True praise changes us. Someone once said, “You become like what you worship,” and there is truth in that. The more we worship God, the more our hearts begin to reflect His character. Worship draws us closer to Him and fills us with a greater desire to know Him and tell others about Him.

The psalmist then says we are to “glory” in His holy name. The Hebrew word used here is “halal,” which means to boast in, celebrate, or joyfully honor. This is where deep joy begins to grow. When we truly see God’s holiness, power, beauty, and love—and realize that He has called us His own—our hearts cannot help but rejoice.

From there, we are drawn even closer: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.” The more we experience His goodness, the more we long for Him.

And because God delights in relationship with His children, He continues revealing more of Himself to us through His works, wonders, miracles, and truth. Each new revelation gives us fresh reasons to give thanks again, and the cycle begins anew.

This is exactly what God desires for us. Jesus Himself said in Gospel of John 17:3 that eternal life is found in knowing God and knowing Him:

“And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

So let me encourage you today to take the first step in this beautiful cycle of spiritual growth and ‘GIVE THANKS’.