Joy - Experience Joy This ChristmasSmakprov

In His presence is fullness of joy

Fullness of joy sounds pretty good, right? You may think you have joy in your life already: I have my beautiful family, my kids make me laugh, I love watching the sunset and drinking a good cup of coffee. These things and lots of other things bring me joy and happiness. 

But this verse in Psalms is talking about something different. The fullness of joy that comes from being in God’s presence. This is a lasting joy, an overwhelming joy, a joy that impacts other people because it doesn’t come from external things. It’s a joy that isn’t swayed by our circumstances, because we remain in God’s presence, and there we are overflowing with joy. 

What’s stopping you from having this joy, or what are you letting steal it? Could it be relationship issues, financial stress, health, work or just being busy? 

I had to learn that when everything seemed to be going wrong all at once, God’s joy was still mine to have. If I remain in Him, He will remain in me. 

If I keep reading my Bible, if I stay in his presence, if I seek Him first, praying, talking, focusing on him and his promise…it is then that my joy will be full.

What impact will that have on your life and on others? Sure, you benefit from this: it’s great to be joyful! But the effect and influence that can have will surely impact people around you.

This is where lives can be changed. When you are catching up with people and discipling them, they will see something different about you. They may get curious about why you aren’t acting like other people, or about your attitude and outlook always being positive. They’ll see it as something they want for themselves, because it’s not the norm in our world!

We are here to share the hope of Jesus, to seek Him, stay connected to Him and be full of His joy! We cannot do this in our own power. 

Prayer:

God, today I choose to not let my situation get in the way of you and me. I step into your presence, I choose to receive your joy. Fill me up, Lord, because I can’t do it on my own. I receive that fullness of joy, and every day I will make that same decision to remain in your presence and in your joy. In your name, Amen.