John 10:10 (Amp.) says, I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). And Ephesians 2:10 (Amp.) says, …living the good life which He pre- arranged and made ready for us to live.
These two scriptures clearly point out the fact that God not only wants us to have an abundant life, but He also wants us to enjoy it. He prearranged for us to live “the good life” before the foundations of the world!
The French have an expression, joie de vivre, which translated into English means: “joy of living.” Believers, more than anyone else on the face of the earth, should be experiencing this “joy of living” because of the abundant life God has provided for us.
So why aren’t more believers actually enjoying their lives? Why don’t they have a “joy of living?”
Psalm 16:11 tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. So, if we, as believers, aren’t experiencing joy in our daily lives, it can only mean that we aren’t really living in His presence.
It is only in the presence of the Lord that we receive joy, encouragement, peace, and strength for our daily lives. It is only in His presence that we can hear Him speak words of life and love to our hearts. It is only by abiding in His presence that we are reminded of who we are: children of the Most High God, deeply loved, highly favored, and exceedingly blessed.
Living in the presence of the Lord produces complete and total joy – not only joy, but “pleasures forevermore.”
Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is [our] strength. So we see that if we are going to be strong spiritually, then it is imperative that we spend enough time in the presence of the Lord to receive this joy!
How can anyone spend quality time with the Lord, reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer, and praising and worshiping Him without coming out “full of joy?”
No matter what situation or circumstance you may go through, you can still experience joy! That’s because joy is not based on circumstances. It is a fruit of the recreated human spirit (Gal. 5:22).
Happiness is an emotion, and emotions change quite often. Most people can fake happiness for a while. They can pretend that all is well. They can pretend to be enjoying their lives. But deep, abiding, true joy cannot be faked.
If your “joy tank” is running low, then you need to get in the presence of the Lord and get it filled back up!
You may have to stir up the joy on the inside of you. The scriptures tell us to “break forth into joy” (Isa. 52:9), to “shout for joy” (Psalm 32:11), and to “sing for joy” (Psalm 67:4). If you are born again, then you already have joy, but you will have to abide in His presence to maintain a full level of it.
It is only by living full of the Word and the Spirit that believers will experience a “joy of living.” It is only by maintaining a vital connection with the Lord that we will truly have and enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. And it is only by living in His presence that we learn to live “the good life that He prearranged and made ready for us to live.”
So, make sure that you daily draw near to the Lord by getting into His Word and spending time fellowshipping with Him, because in His presence is fullness of joy!
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