FULLNESS OF JOY
Suggested Reading: Psalms 15-17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Belvoir Fortress was constructed by the Crusaders 1000 years ago on a precipice high above the Jordan Valley. This location is only about 20 kilometres south of the Sea of Galilee and looks across into Jordan.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Psalm 16:11
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
YES!!! IT’S TRUE!!! Right now we can experience that “fulness of joy!” and the pleasures that are at His “right hand!” Just think of the amazing honour to be able, by God’s grace, to do as Psalm 15 instructs us.
The Apostle Peter is a participant in today’s blog. Here’s a commentary on Psalm 16 by Peter, given in the first recorded message he preached on the birthday of the Church on the streets of Jerusalem. Let’s read together Acts 2:22-32. Jesus is alive!!! Then let’s read again our key verse. If we are not finding in Jesus the “joy” spoken of in our key verse, we should check our pulses…we may be dead!
Psalm 17 has in it the words, “apple of Your eye.” That’s God’s eye to which David refers in his prayer. Just think how careful we are to protect our eyes. David prayed, “keep me as the apple of Your eye.” Now that’s protection! That’s the best security we could ever have! YES!!! JOY!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I pray with the writer of this prayer, David (a suggestion to everybody – read and pray out loud, if possible, the following verses…Psalm 17:1-8). Then, Lord, I am confessing with full assurance of faith, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (17:15). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I accept and believe God’s Truth! The Apostle John wrote three letters to us all. He begins the first letter with, “These things we write to you [you and me] that your joy may be full!” (1st John 1:4). Then in chapter 3 of that letter, verses 1-3 (click here), John declares that, “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Oh, the longing that filled my heart as a 16-year-old as I learned and sang the chorus, “O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer…Come in Thy sweetness. Come in Thy fullness, stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.” I weep with joy as I sing this prayer just now. I can hardly see the keys for tears. The English language fails me in expressing what is in my heart. Therefore I’m praying, as Paul said he did, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding!” (1 Corinthians 14:15). That refers to my spirit. According to the Scriptures, I am “spirit, soul and body.” Here’s a link to that song of longing to be like Jesus.
Yours for “Fullness of Joy!”
David
The moat around the Belvoir Fortress (described in the photo caption above). According to the Shepherd king David, we have much greater security than a castle with a moat around it! Amen!!!
Words in the Engish language failed me also, in my personal prayer time, during an early AM waking this morning, and being on PST (BC time) and knowing that the reading of this blog was shortly to be delivered, it would provide a comforting distraction from my own personal struggle of dissatisfaction. When I read the Psalms, it spoke for me what I may have been attempting to groan in the Spirit about…thank goodness the Lord’s word is truly a rod and a staff to lean upon…just the confirmation I needed that the Lord knows all and hears our prayers and gives answer!
I’m grateful to be connected to this daily lifeline.
Indeed, true fullness and joy can only be found in Christ Jesus! David learned of that great joy as a 16 year old and has retained it ever since; I leaned it slightly older, at 21. It really doesn’t matter when we learn it, as long as we learn it! However, Satan has done his work well at blinding the eyes of society to it’s need of Jesus. Many well intended people may view a belief in Jesus as being too “religious”. Many use the well-worn arguments of pseudo-science as a front to protect their misguided intellect. Still others are so blindsided by pop-culture, movies, internet, tv, music and keeping busy with sports and a variety of other activities to ever have a moment to even consider bending a knee towards Jesus. The key is the one-on-one relationship I believe, affecting someone you’ve connected with, for Jesus. Eyes are watching, people want to see “reality” of a changed life as proof, people truly want to see that Jesus is changing lives and that He is real. We then to a degree become spokespeople for Jesus, a living example of the attributes of Jesus to a lost world. Awesome task when you think about it, but we do live in a community of brothers and sisters in Christ, each living the life as well, we are not alone. Gain strength for the journey, pray, worship, study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians etc., for overwhelming tasks are possible when taken in small pieces. For instance, perhaps God is prompting you to support a particular ministry, by supporting that ministry you are now partnering with God and that particular ministry to expound the good news of Christ to others who may never have heard. We do this to fulfill the great commission of Jesus. Have a blessed Lord’s day blog-buddies!
Only to be like our Lord in spirit as we place our hope in the most high! It struck me how the apostle John writes, “… it has not yet been revealed what we shall be but we will see Him as He is.” Just having hope in Him purifies our spirit, soul and body. Yes, this does bring forth joy!! It is so sad how those in the world who have not this hope, have become joyless and preoccupied in sadness and anger. There is hope and a Saviour who loves all! Have a great Lords Day filled with praise, hope and joy, to all fellow bloggers!! Thank you, David!!
God comforts the broken hearted and Jesus said, “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me.” Some people exploit compassion by pretending one thing or another with hope of causing evil but sad and even angry is human. Better to be sincerly angry for good reason and within reason than falsely peaceful.
Still, the patience and hope that David Mainse and Ron demonstrate is proof.
For we shall be like him as we see him as he is
Thank you that We are the apple of your eye and without you we can do nothing .My daughter Miranda is 29 and she is going in for surgery on sept 17 for cervical cancer I would so appreciate all my brothrrs snd sisters to pray for complete destruction of the cells to be destroyrd in Jesus nsme Amen and anyone going through sickness in their body as well as their family members for complete healing in Jesus name Amen
Thank you for your prayers and Thank you father God for complete restoration of Miranda s body AMEN
We lift our prayers for Miranda, Lord. May any cancer cells be held in check and begin to diminish completely. Guide her surgeon with vision and insight before, during and after surgery. Comfort Miranda during this time of uncertainty, knowing her loving Father is in control. We pray for a miracle of healing, in Jesus name!!! Amen!
Well stated. Amen!
In agreement and prayer for Miranda. AMEN & AMEN!!
Lord please bless Miranda and heal her body from these cancerous cells. Thank you for walking with her and keeping her in the palm of your hand. We praise you for taking on flesh, you know intimately our weakness and frailties. Thank you for hearing our prayer. Amen
Wonderful prayer-song! WITH THE WORDS! Wow. Love that.
Oh praise You, our Heavenly Father!!! We glorify You, Jesus Christ, our Blessed Saviour and Redeemer. We lift up our hands and shout for joy in the presence of the Holy Spirit! God Bless you, and keep you, David Mainse–oh faithful servant–thou art! Praise to our Lord and King! Let us sing and shout in our places of worship, today! Let us give our voices to His glory! God’s blessings to you, dear fellow saints! Let us rejoice in this day to honour our Risen King! Amen, amen, and amen!
Thank you!!! God bless you!!!!!!
What a beautiful song and prayer thank you David enjoy this beautiful day with your families. Our pastor just had his forth grandchild the baby boy is so cute and pastor
Filsinger is so excited now its number four.
Lianne Hogg
Heavenly Father
Keep me as the apple of Your eye
hide me under the shadow of Your wings in Jesus name we pray Amen.
Putting you all in my prayers .
Have a blessed day worshipping Our God.
XXX Carole.
Thank you David, I too wept as I sang the words of that song “O to be like thee..”
Please pray with me whoever reads this blog…my sister left yesterday and will be away for two weeks. She has asked me to check on her home…I have always had a key to her home, and assured her I would
This morning I have search my purse, where I also keep it…it is not there so I proceeded to hunt for it but to no avail
I have prayed that the Lord would reveal its whereabouts…so far nothing.
Please join with me in prayer that it is exposed where ever it is…I would hate not to be able to check on my sister’s home while she is away, as I promised her I would.
Thank you and God bless you all
Irene
Maybe a locksmith could help on your sister’s home. Thank you David for getting me into the Old Testament. The writings of King David are so great. I just made it through Job. I feel at the end, The Holy Spirit whisper. this is what David is going through,
Where do I find comment so I can sign off.
As we lifted up Jesus, our Saviour and King this morning in church, I felt a touch on my body. Pray that now, Lord for Miranda and Irene, I agree in prayer with you to find that key, using the verse in Matthew 18:19. Thank you, David for this blog.
David, hi pray your health will IMPROVE, I need you, your BLOGS are AWESOME (love to be your Blog buddie’ I love the way you PRAY your FAITH AWESOME, may I ask you 1 ? Why(curious) always GODS Right hand and why not left hand, will KEEP praying for you and Family and by GODS GRACE you will keep being our Blog Buddie, love you so much and crossroadr Too, thx Jenny!!!!! (South africa)
I agree with your prayer Ger may the Lord touch Miranda While the Doctors operate
Lord give the doctors Knowledge , and I also pray for Irene so she will find that key.
May the Lord Bless you all this Lords day….R…
In total agreement of all the above prayers as well as we pray for healing of all who are aflicted with illness yesterday and today. In Jesus name Amen!
I am totally filled with JOY as my wedding approaches on Saturday!! Marrying a Christian from my church, we are sooo happy!!
Please pray for us!!
Nancy xoxoxo