In Your Presence There Is Fullness Of Joy…

…at your right hand are pleasures forever more.

Where do you look for happiness and joy? Happiness is usually fleeting and dependent on circumstances which can change. But true and lasting joy are found only in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christians have the joy of Jesus and the hope of heaven; where there are pleasures forever more at the Father’s right hand.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Before I became a Christian, I pursued sinful pleasures to find happiness and joy. Initially, I enjoyed the immediate gratification that sin offers, but as time passed I grew increasingly miserable. Sin is a trap that certainly promises short term joy, but in the end only causes pain and suffering.

I longed to understand how to have the joy that I saw in Christians. Then after accepting Christ, I experienced joy in His presence. I learned that obedience to Him results in joy. While His ways and guidelines may seem restrictive, they do produce joy; because they give us healthy boundaries and protection.

I still struggle with the temptation to seek joy elsewhere, but God always draws me back to Himself and I look forward to being with Him for all eternity.

The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him. – Dwight L. Moody

The first step to finding joy in God’s presence and pleasures forever more is through reconciliation with God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way to receive forgiveness for sins and eternal life, through His death on the cross and resurrection.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NIV)

Once reconciled to God, we need to stay connected to Jesus, (John 15:1-5), to enjoy and produce Spiritual fruit. Joy is listed as the second fruit of the Holy Spirit, (Galatians 5:22).

John 15:11 says, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (NASB)

Jesus wants us to be full of His joy!

Accepting Christ and His joy doesn’t mean we won’t have problems. But, He gives us something far better than a trouble- free life and that is His presence.

Hebrews 13:5 says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God.” –Sam Storms

Jesus is at the Father’s right hand, (Romans 8:34), (Acts 5:30-31) and pleasures forever more refers to eternal life.

Christians become citizens of heaven, at the moment of salvation. (Philippians 3:20).

Death is not the end for believers, but the beginning of pleasures forevermore in heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:3-4 says, “And I know that this man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows – was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” (NIV)

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)

Heaven is a real place that is so wonderful; it is beyond human understanding.

As wonderful as our lives may be here, they pale in comparison to heaven.

Just as heaven is a real place so is hell. Thankfully, Christians are saved from hell  because of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Believers will be judged for service done for the Lord, instead of for our sins.

We can have assurance of our salvation as 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (ESV)

Do you experience joy in the presence of the Lord?

Are you looking forward to heaven?

Do you know for sure that you have eternal life and are you looking forward to going to heaven?

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more. Psalm 16:11 | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• What Caused Me to Doubt My Salvation

• Who Needs Jesus, I’m a Good Person

• 3 Acceptable Sins You Can Enjoy Today…or NOT!

• Hungry for Heaven

• How Moving is Like Going to Heaven

• Six Reasons all Roads DON’T Lead to Heaven

• Five Questions for Those Who Think Many Roads Lead to Heaven

• How to Prepare for Eternity Now and Face Death with Confidence Later

• Why a Loving God Sends People to Hell

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Character May Be Manifested In The Great Moments…

…but it is made in the small ones.

A person’s true character is often revealed during the great moments of life, but it is forged in the small moments through choices we make and actions we take on a daily basis.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net. 

There is nothing quite like an unexpected crisis to show one’s character. The day started out like any other. But by 10:30 p.m., it was obvious that our home of 15 years was in the direct path of a huge, Santa Ana wind-driven; and rapidly spreading fire. The Police and Sheriff departments called with warnings to leave.

Local news stations reported that evacuation centers were full and my husband was calling hotels. They too were full. I panicked and questioned my husband, “Why did we wait so long and where are we going to go?”  Then I told him, “We need a plan!”

He simply said, “Trust in the Lord.” Thankfully, we found a hotel, collected our things and convinced my reluctant mother to join us. I apologized to my husband and we were able to work together to leave. Thankfully our home was spared.

Character is so important. It starts with our thoughts and it develops through daily moment-by-moment decisions and actions we make; ultimately defining and revealing who we are during life’s great moments.

Google defines character as: “the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.”

Having good character means we possess qualities of moral excellence; some of which include: wisdom, humility, integrity, patience and courage. 

One day we will have to give an account to God for our thoughts, words, actions and habits.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13 NIV)

Developing good character is difficult, because the problem is that we can’t be good on our own. For example, before I was a Christian, I confess that I was dishonest.

But, even Christians can struggle with doing the right thing. In our minds we may want to, but as I reacted during the fire, we sometimes operate in the flesh and not the Spirit.

Romans 7:22-25 says, “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”” (NIV)

Thankfully, because of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit to help us.

Spirit filled living is the answer for developing the right character.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (NIV)

As we submit to the Lord, He reproduces His character in us. Some people view submission negatively, but it is for our own good. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control, which is necessary for producing good character.

Each day we have opportunities in the small moments of life to cultivate good or bad character. With God’s power we can choose to speak with kindness to rude people. We can choose honesty instead of dishonesty. We can choose to tell the truth instead of a lie. Our responses and actions can develop into either good or bad habits.

Thus, our character made in the small moments of life will reveal itself in the greater moments according to habits that we form today.

This quote sums up how character is formed.

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” Frank Outlaw Late President of the Bi-Lo Stores

Would you like to develop Christ-like character?

Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. –Phillips Brooks

CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Who Needs Jesus, I’m a Good Person

• Submit to Get What You Want

• 3 Steps to Get the Help You Need Today

• S. Lewis on Integrity

• 3 Acceptable Sins You Can Enjoy Today…or NOT!

• Podcast: Are all Sins Equal?

• Podcast: Will someone lose their salvation if they commit terrible sins?

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Faith Is The Deliberate Confidence In The Character Of God…

…whose ways you may not understand at the time.

We need faith and deliberate confidence in the character of God, especially when we don’t understand His ways. He is worthy of our trust even when we can’t imagine what He may be doing in our lives. Faith is making a conscious and intentional choice to place our confidence in the character of God in spite of circumstances and feelings.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

I’ve had many opportunities to trust in the character of God through times of testing during the past 30 years. There have been trials, hardships and difficulties. Currently our family is dealing with long-term chronic and incurable disease, a variety of other health issues; and family members with difficult challenges.

These hard circumstances have caused me to have doubts at times. But, I have witnessed the character of God displayed through these tests. I have seen His grace and kindness in each trial. I am learning to have confidence in the character of God, even when circumstances seem to contradict the fact that He is good and loving.

Many people put their faith and confidence in people because they trust them, but how much more should we trust the faithful and unchanging character of God?

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

God will always keep His word and remain true but, sometimes life is painful and feelings can cloud our perception of God. In fact, our feelings can mislead and deceive us about the character of God.

To know about the character of God, we must turn to the Bible. When we know His character, we understand that He is always worthy of praise.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

We trust in the character of God and His promise that He is working for our good.

When we don’t understand life, we need a faith that is confident in the character of God.

Thankfully He has revealed Himself so that we can have faith in Him.

The character of God needs to be deeply ingrained in our hearts and minds, so that our faith will stand firm during trials.

Here are some of God’s wonderful character traits:

• Faithful – 1 Corinthians 1:9

• Loving – Psalm 25:10

• Compassionate – Psalm 86:5

• Merciful – Luke 6:36

• Just – Psalm 111:7

• Righteous – Psalm 65:5

• Good – Psalm 143:10

The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.(Psalm 103:8 NLT)

Oftentimes, I try to analyze and figure out why things are happening in my life. But, this is often an exercise in futility.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (NLT)

Because His thoughts and ways are too great for us to understand; we need an unwavering faith and trust in the character of God.

Do you have faith in God even when you don’t understand His ways?

Please click here if you would like to accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Faith is the deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. –Oswald Chambers | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 5 Fantastic Spiritual Senses that Lead to Faith

• Faith Means Acting When You Feel Inadequate

• Honoring Those Who “Fight the Good Fight of the Faith”

• Faith is taking the first step even when…

• How to Tackle a Mountain-Sized Goal in Faith

• The Lord loves righteousness and justice…

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth