Week 34

KEEP and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and hide myself. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You…The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage. I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety, For You will not abandon me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is FULLNESS OF JOY, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11 AMP

So after a month of going on a Joy Hunt in scripture, it all comes down to this… In His Presence.

As I’ve shared before, presence means His Face. The more I seek His Face, the more joy just naturally comes upon me. And who sits at the right hand of the Father? Jesus! In Him I have pleasures forever! 

I remember when my youngest was a baby, she didn’t cry very much. Crying usually happened when she was hungry, but as soon as I showed up she stopped her tears and smiled, knowing she was about to be fed. Even in sadness, anxiety or tears, when we seek our loving Father we see His face turned towards us.

I don’t strive for joy, I just rest in it as I seek after the joy-giver.