The Joy of God’s Presence By Paul Chappell Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:1–5 All around us there are people looking for joy. Many of them do not really know what they are looking for or where they could actually find it. The reality is that joy is primarily not a destination—instead it is a by-product of a life that is lived in the presence of God. Each believer has the indwelling Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation. And it is only when we are walking in the Spirit that we have the reality of God’s presence, the source of our joy. David put it this way: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). Andrew Murray wrote, “In trial and weakness and trouble, He seeks to bring us low, until we learn that His grace is all, and to take pleasure in the very thing that brings us and keeps us low. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. His presence filling and satisfying our emptiness, becomes the secret of humility that need never fail.” There is nothing that can substitute for the presence of God being an active reality in our lives. The various alternatives that the world offers are only empty, temporary fixes. Instead of chasing the latest fad or trend, we need to seek God’s face as our source of joy. Today’s Renewal Principle: The secret to joy is not found in possessions or achievement but in time spent in the presence of God.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:52:14 +0000
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