"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore." - Psalm 16:11
Let's
look at a few myths about where joy comes from and let God refresh us today
in His presence.
Joy
is a Possession.
Especially
at this time of year, we concentrate a whole bunch on gifts. Will I give the
right ones? What type of wrapping paper and ribbon should I use? We anticipate
that special present we'll receive from a loved one. I recall one Christmas when
I was a young teenager (or a kid? Hopefully just a kid!). I cried after all the
gifts were given, because I did not the gift I thought my parents had been
hinting at. No, joy is definitely not found in a possession. Even the elation
we experience in getting a big gift eventually wears off. What about if we wean
ourselves away from the "getting -addiction" right now and give away
even more, particularly to missions and getting the Gospel to other nations?
Joy
is a Position.
It's
crazy how much we might say, "It's not important if I get this and such a
title..." However, if I get passed over for a promotion and someone else
gets a particular role at work, I get mad. Or I sulk when a position at my
volunteer organization or at my church, that I've been vying for, is given to
another person. I let others know somehow that it was rightfully mine. This is
not the source of joy God offers.
Joy
is a Place.
You'd
think that living in Europe, perhaps I'd get joy from the enchanting
cobblestone streets, or a 300- year old splashing fountain or the view of a
breathtaking harbour. Yes-- beauty does speak to a place in my soul; it's how
I'm somehow wired. But joy is not found in a place. Negative attitudes are not
determined by our environment. You can be ungrateful, or angry or have a pity-
party anywhere. In northern Germany, it's cold and rainy. The Germans in the
West are different than the Germans in the East, where I used to live.
Thankfully, Jesus never changes so I carry joy within me, when I have Him.
Ok,
let's get away from the myths. What does Psalm 16 say? God provides us joy --
fullness of joy -- in His Presence.
Actually, joy IS a Person. The Person of
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Prayer: If I can't rejoice in
anything else today, let me rejoice in you, Lord.
Your presence and your face
are what I seek.
Thank you for constant in a world of changing possessions,
positions and places.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will
say, rejoice." - Philippians 4:4
