“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11 AMP

As we daily struggle to find a lace of peace and quiet, the Psalmist give us the simple answer, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Everything in life is moving at a breakneck seed. It seems as if you would slow down, you would be runover by the person behind you! You can see the reality of this in a simple drive on a highway! So many today rushing to somewhere but really getting nowhere! Our verse gives us some practical advice on how to live in this life. The Psalm opens with an admonition to slow down and look around for the path of the Lord! The promise is that God will show us the way! One of the greatest advantages of the smart phone was the interface with Maps programs. Just put in the destination and you will see in real-time the fastest route to your destination. The Scripture is no different. Just like following the map program, you must decide on whether or not to follow the route! If we chose the route of the Scriptures, God promises joy and pleasures forevermore! We also have a promise of His ongoing support!

“And the LORD said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].” Psalms 34:14 AMP

Notice that His presence is always with us if we are on the right path! If you put the wrong destination in the map program it will take you someplace you do not want to go. Then. You need to reevaluate your journey and plot a new course! If we have such a trust in a man-made program, why would we even questions God’s directions? We should have no fear that He is leading us to the promised land of our lives!

“Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all [the people of] Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance. 8It is the LORD who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 AMP

WOW! What a great promise that He will go before us. I am always reminded that when the Israelites were going to the promised land, the signa that it was time to move was when the presence of God left the temple and moved. We need to learn the same lesson. Sometimes we get content in living in one place when suddenly the presence of the Lord moves. If we are to have the peace and joy of the Lord, we must surrender to His leading and follow His presence! Many things can cause us to get comfortable in this life. The writer of Hebrews penned these words;

“Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 AMP

Jesus put it this way,

““Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life? 28And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right–the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:25-33 AMP

Don’t be distracted by the needs and things of this world. I you follow Him with all your heart, mind, and soul, everything you need will be taken care of! Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken