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| PentecostalTheology.com
AN OVERCOMING JOY – Ray E Horton
“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28 quoting Psalm 16:11). Where will I be filled with the Lord’s joy? In His presence – and “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Neh. 8:10). So, my strength comes from the joy of being in God’s presence.
My strength comes from the joy of being in God’s presence
As we become fully conscious of His presence all the time, a peaceful but deep joy will come out of the confidence of knowing Him and that we are one with Him. We rest from our labors and yield to His life within us.
So, how do we remain in His presence? In one sense, we know He is always with us. But there is a difference between knowing about and actually sensing His presence in our lives.
How do we remain in His presence?
I can know my wife is in the room but be ignoring her. She’s not as fully present to me unless I am choosing to pay attention to her. Oh, I’m so busy – well I can incorporate her in what I’m doing, conversing with her about it.
Same with the Lord. As we pay attention to Him and are thankful for Him and praise Him, and converse with Him in all that we do, we will have a greater sense of His presence.
And the joy will be there, giving us the motivation and confidence for the strength to live by faith and receive all His grace offers through His precious promises. It will be an overcoming joy that dismisses worries and concerns and rolls them over onto Him, knowing He will give us the strength to stand and the wisdom and power for victory in Him.
