JoySample

DAY 2: WHERE JOY IS MADE

If you want to see changes in your life: if you want to be healed, be free, and have joy, you’ll need to actually spend time in the presence of God. Religion doesn’t bring joy to your life. In fact, from the beginning of the word of God, He’s been telling His people that what is in our hearts has always been infinitely more important than following the rules. To be clear, I’m not saying that the rules don’t matter, or that we shouldn’t obey the teachings of our faith. Only that if we do those things and our hearts remain far from God, they are of little value. 

Look at what the Lord says to his people in Hosea 6:6: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Steadfast love. That’s what matters to God. That’s what makes the difference in our lives. The word steadfast means unchanging and consistent. When we learn the importance of honest, consistent, unchanging love for God, we begin to experience more than just religion, but relationship. In Hosea 6:6 it also says He desires for us to have “knowledge of God” – He wants us to know Him. He wants us to learn about Him as we would a friend or a loved one with whom we’ve spent time. 

How do we get to that place? When we talk to Him, and spend time around Him. It’s in our private devotional time. Look what happens during this time according to the psalm we are focusing on today: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy” Relationship with God brings knowledge of the path of life. The more time we spend with Him the less confused and worried we will be. The more confident we will be in our decisions. The more insight we will have on the situations occurring around us. Because He knows what’s next, and He knows what’s best for us. And He shares these things with us when we go to Him and spend time in prayer and meditation on His word. 

Equally important, relationship with God brings joy. So many of us pray for joy but refuse to go to the source: the presence of God. Many of us spend years seeing small flashes of joy in church services, but find that it disappears when we go home. This is because it is made in His presence. In our last devotional we learned that joy is a fruit: it is the product of the Holy Spirit. We also learned that fruit is always produced on purpose. In the same way, if we don’t intentionally spend time in His presence, we will never experience fullness of joy. In this passage, the word “fullness” means complete, whole, and lacking nothing.

Those who draw near to God must be more than just “card-carrying” Christians. It takes more than a church membership. We are rewarded when we diligently seek Him, being steadfast, consistent and unchanging. I want to challenge you to spend time in God’s presence as you read this plan. My prayer is that you would go beyond the title of Christian, and become one who diligently seeks God and reaps the benefits of His presence. Reading books and watching sermons are great. But if in the end you don’t learn to diligently seek God on your own, you will never learn how to live joyfully. As you go through this devotional, take time to pray, journal, and meditate in the presence of God. Find a quiet place to talk with God and pour out your heart to Him. It is in these moments where joy is made, and your heart will be renewed day by day.

Thoughts for Meditation:

How often do I seek joy in other places, but fail to go to the presence of God? Have I been steadfast and diligent in my devotion to the Lord? how can I ensure that I make time to find joy in His presence?

Prayer:

Lord, teach me how to find fullness of joy in your presence. I’m sorry if I’ve offered you religion, but have never offered steadfast love and devotion, and have never gotten to know you. I realize now that I am in need of a relationship with you. Teach me how to seek you in a way that is consistent and diligent so that I can reap the rewards of knowing you. Make known to me the paths of life, and show me who you are, so that I will never depart from you.