Where Do You Find Pleasure?
Psalm 16:11(NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Where do you find pleasure? I'll be honest with you, since we've purchased the house in Florida, in a resort community, 15 min from the beach, I look forward to moving there. Especially since we are currently living in a small apartment that's much less than quiet. Though the desire is there, we are in no way trying to speed up God's timing. If there's one thing I've learned in these 44 years as a Christian, it's that no matter how perfect the circumstances may be, I have no peace outside of the will of God. Likewise no matter how difficult the circumstances may seem, I take great pleasure in staying close to His heart and in the center of His will. No matter how that looks or where that may be.
As I'm sitting here in my prayer room, worshiping God and looking at a large picture in front of me of a beach and pier jetting out over the water, I'm reminded that whether I'm here or there, the peace and joy remains the same.
When you have a relationship with Jesus... not a religious experience, but a true relationship... your outward circumstances no longer have any affect on your spirit. I experience pain from a fractured pelvis and damage to my neck and back. I have other strange ailments that attack me on a daily basis, but all that is temporal. Yes, I live in the world, I understand the attacks of the enemy, stress, trials, conflicts and sleepless nights, but it doesn't compare to the excitement I feel in my soul!
I KNOW JESUS! When you can say that... you overcome the world! His love will captivate your attention and His beauty is mesmerizing. The pain and trials are a faint shadow when you remain surrounded by His presence. It's impenetrable, the darts of the enemy have no access there.
I know so many Christians who complain of their miserable lives, untapped dreams and physical pain. I'm not in anyway minimizing any of that, but there's a place...a place of rest, acceptance, love, freedom, healing, peace and overwhelming joy...it's a Secret Place that can be accessed with a repentant heart and a desire to know the one who knows everything about you, the darkest secrets and the deepest pain... yet He desires you to go deeper into His presence than you've ever gone before. I've only scratched the surface, but I'm enjoying the adventure of exploring more and more of who my God is!
Don't let anything in this life keep you from the greatest joy of your Salvation. Surrender all and passionately pursue Him!
1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Psalm 51:12-17 (NLT) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 16:8-11 (TPT) Because you are close to me and always available, my confidence will never be shaken, for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment. My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory! Even my body will rest confident and secure. For you will not abandon me to the realm of death, nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption. For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you.
