The Joy of His Presence

For the joy that lay before him,

 he endured the cross,

 despising the shame,

 and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

Let's take time today to rest in his presence.  In his presence is fullness of joy. 

Joy comes from relationship with God and others. Because God wanted to have the joy of our company, Jesus endured a painful death.  Now we have a place in his presence. 

Some days we feel far away because of fear or guilt. Yet, he is still the same.  He is still there. Oh, for the return of those days of blessedness when we feel his presence - the warmth, peace and calm assurance.  It makes it so much easier for us to give the gift of loving presence away to others when we are experiencing it ourselves.

Lord, thank you today for the gift of your presence, for the gift of communion and fellowship.  I am so happy that you want to be with me.

Today, even if I have feelings of guilt or fear, may I still acknowledge that you are here.  Set me free so that I may come again into your presence where I can experience full fellowship with you and give it away to others.  Amen.

You will show me the way of life,

granting me the joy of your presence 

and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalms 16:11 NLT

Fellowship

One of the joys of maturing in the spirit or perhaps, just getting older, is realizing we are free to just be ourselves.  In younger years we think we have to conform to someone else's idea of who we should be to find approval.  We are unconsciously trying to please some unknown other.

Jesus came to set us free.  That freedom includes being who he created us to be.  Each of us is unique.  We have been given unique gifts and talents and personalities that are precious to God.  

The wonderful consequence of this kind of freedom is that now we are free to have true fellowship with others.  We are free to be ourselves without fear and those around us are free to be themselves without fear of judgment or condemnation from us.  This is the type of free flowing relationship that God has desired for us to enjoy.  

But if we really are living and walking in the Light,

as He, Himself, is in the Light, 

we have true, unbroken fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son

cleanses us from all sin and guilt.

1 John 1:7 (AMP)