Psalm 16:11 - Fullness of Joy in God's Presence.
Psalm 16:11 - Fullness of Joy in God's Presence.
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your
presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (NIV) You make known to me the path of life; you
will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at
your right hand.
What is true Happiness? A child eating an ice cream cone can be
happy. A student getting an "A" on all subjects can be extremely
happy. And how about all that happiness when ball games are won?
These are all earthy, temporary, short-lived times of happiness. What
we really want is the long lasting, deep seated, eternal kind. The
Bible refers to it as joy. Material riches can bring spiritual
poverty. Material poverty can bring spiritual riches. It is possible to
have both types of riches but in many cases material "blessings"
becomes a curse. In fact, going through difficult circumstances help us
better understand what Christ went through for us and makes us partners
with Him. God does not promise temporary happiness; indeed, the
Bible assumes problems will come our way. But God does promise
lasting joy for all those who believe in Him. This kind of joy stays
with us despite all our problems. (Yokefellows at BCCC)
Joy comes from being in God's presence. True joy is far deeper
than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles.
Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but
joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence within us. As
we contemplate his daily presence, we will find contentment. As we
understand the future he has for us, we will experience joy. Don't base
your life on circumstances, but on God. [Life Application SB]
God's Presence evokes a variety of responses in Scripture.
Some people are terrified in His Presence, others freeze in awe and
wonder, and some marvel that they didn't recognize Him until after He
left. Sometimes He appears with clouds and thunder; other times He
shows Himself subtly and selectively. Regardless, there's one response
we rarely see in a God-encounter in the Bible: joy.
Why is that? Probably because His appearances are sudden
events, and the first response to the trauma of seeing Him can range
from panic to guilt to awe to zeal. But for those who spend extended
time with Him - Moses in the Tabernacle, David in his crises, or the
disciples with Jesus - the alarm wears off and the relationship deepens.
The result, David tells us in Psalm 16, is joy.
Even today, many believers dread really getting up close and
personal with God. That's because they don't know who He is. They haven't
grasped mercy or understood His goodness. They don't know He wants us to
experience His pleasure forever, or that one of His primary purposes for us
is to experience His joy (John 17:13). Few of us realize that He
wants to delight us. His goal is that our hearts would overflow when
we're with Him.
Father, help me ignore the teachers who emphasize the
obligation of serving You more than the pleasure of knowing You. Help me
embrace the truth that You are zealous about my joy, and show me how to
experience it in Your Presence. [The One Year Experiencing God's Presence
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful
anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of
your being, instead of trying to figure things out yourself. Waiting
on Me is the way I designed you to live: all day, every day. I
created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties.
I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me:
renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope,
awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify
Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will. It also
helps you to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fullness of Joy. (Lam.
3:24-26; Isa. 40:31; Psa. 16:11) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
As you turn your attention to Me, feel the Light of My Presence
shining upon you. Open your mind and heart to receive My heavenly smile
of approval. Let My gold-tinged Love wash over you and soak into
the depths of your being. As you are increasingly filled with My
Being, you experience joyous union with Me: I in you, and you in Me.
Your Joy-in-Me and My Joy-in-you become intertwined and inseparable.
I suffuse your soul with Joy in My Presence; at My right hand
there are pleasures forevermore. (John 17:20-23; Psa. 16:11) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
SPECIAL MUSIC VIDEO ON JOY IN GOD'S PRESENCE:
Something About That Name / Your Presence is Heaven to Me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGoXkT8kivY
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110120-1211.html
LIVE STREAMING PROPHECY CRUSADE: LANDMARKS OF PROPHECY:
YouTube Announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cMVPybuWHU
Program Schedule:
http://www.landmarksofprophecy.com/about-the-event/national-broadcast-information
