BLESSINGS OF GOD’S PRESENCE (2)

“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

FULLNESS of JOY and eternal PLEASURES are major among the BLESSINGS of GOD’S PRESENCE: “You will show me the path of life; IN YOUR PRESENCE is FULLNESS of JOY; at Your right hand are PLEASURES forevermore” (Psa.16:11). In His Presence, there’s life; there’s guidance; there’s direction! His Presence unveils the path of life. In His presence, we’re guided by His Word, into all Truth. In His Presence, there’s revelation; every form of confusion gives way. The Presence of God is a place of JOY, a place where mercy is bestowed, and grace received. In His Presence, God dispenses “JOY inexpressible and full of glory” (1Pet.1:8b). There is no room for complaining or murmuring in His Presence. We’re not only blessed, but we become a Blessing unto so many other people as we abide in His presence!

Psalm 16 is a moving psalm of praise and rejoicing that demonstrates ‘Living Blessed’ in Christ Jesus, despite the trials and pains in this life. David penned these words at a time he was facing dire circumstances. He was on the run, hiding out, hoping that king Saul’s army would not find and kill him. On the surface, that doesn’t sound like a reason to be joyful. But David looked past the hardship and saw the goodness of God. He understood that true joy doesn’t rely on outward circumstances, but on a loving relationship with the Creator of the Universe. That gives us a reason to rejoice, even in the worst of times. So, David could say, “In Your Presence there is fullness of joy…” Simply being in His Presence brings UNENDING JOY into our lives: “For You have made him most BLESSED FOREVER; You have made him EXCEEDINGLY GLAD with YOUR PRESENCE” (Psa.21:6).

There is nothing too hard for God to do, nothing too big for Him to conquer, and nothing too small for Him to care about. Whatever comes our way, God’s Presence is always with us, to overcome. There are three primary ways His Presence stays with us: Through Prayer, the Word, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. First, we have audience with the Ruler of the Universe through prayer (Heb.4:16). Irrespective of what time of day or night it is, we can take our pains and troubles to Him and obtain Mercy, Grace, Help, and Joy. Second, reading and meditating in the Word of God ushers us into His Presence. Third, through the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we are in constant contact with our Heavenly Father. He resides in us, and we reside in Him. It is a blessing from the Lord to reside and commune with Him daily.

Fullness of Joy is a celebration of who God is and all He does. This Joy is not a fleeting feeling, here one moment and vanished the next. It transcends outward happenings, or whether or not one feels happiness in the moment. For Believers in Christ, Joy is a state of being that remains within no matter what is going on around. We receive Joy from the Creator of Joy – our Lord Jesus: “…these things I speak in the world, that they may have MY JOY fulfilled in themselves” (Jh.17:13b). Jesus’ Heart concerning us, His disciples, is for His Joy be fulfilled in us! The scriptures impress upon us the importance of building our Joy on the truth of who Jesus is, not on anything we may find in the world.

Jesus is the true meaning of Fullness of Joy! By putting our faith in Him, we have His Joy in us. Trusting Him as our Saviour is the principal access to Joy! God’s right hand, where eternal pleasures abound, is where our Saviour Jesus Christ sits: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the RIGHT HAND of God” (Col.3:1). Heavenly things are the things that matter, and that will last beyond this life! Therefore, in Christ we have acceptance, Joy of Salvation, and pleasures in spite of present circumstances.