Scripture for Today: Psalm 28:7 “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.”

Can a cactus really jump? The chollo cactus is known as the “jumping chollo.” Its barbed spines detach so easily that they seem to jump, hitching a ride on any passing human or animal! When they are finally shaken off, the cactus spine roots where it falls to the ground. What a great way to spread yourself! These cacti are some of the largest and most beautiful but be careful not to be jumped on when stopping to admire them!

Today’s verse describes a heart that trusts in God’s strength, protection and help. This is a heart that finds reasons for joy, so much so that the heart leaps with that joy! Because of our incredible salvation, we can be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. (I Peter 1:8-9) And like the jumping chollo, this joy can spread! Even in an inhospitable desert soil where water is scarce, the joy of the believer can spread to others! This joy comes as we praise Him for His faithful care.

When I am not feeling this joy it is probably because I am focusing on the dry desert soil around me. I am not happy with my circumstances. The disappointments I am living with are clouding my vision of the eternal. I am not jumping up and down with joy. But that can and does change when I turn my heart towards Him in gratitude for His blessings. Praising Him changes everything! And when that deep-seated sense of well-being returns, I am in a good place to spread it!

Lord, keep me grateful.