The Fullness of Joy ..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Fullness of Joy

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As children of the Most High God, we are to be marked by contagious, unceasing joy. Through the Holy Spirit we have access to an unending supply of joy that comes from the wellspring of restored relationship with our heavenly Father. God longs to fill us with his joy that we might live the abundant life Jesus died to give us. He longs to make us children fashioned in the image of our Father that we might share his unending joy to a world without hope. May you discover the greater portion of joy available to you through the Spirit as you encounter the heart of your Father this week.

Scripture:“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

Devotional:

By the grace of God, we have a beautiful inheritance of eternal and tangible relationship with our heavenly Father. Psalm 16:5-6 says, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” And later in verse 11 David writes, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

God has designated the beautiful inheritance of his presence for us. Israel knew what it was to center their gatherings around the presence of God. His presence guided them through the wilderness. His presence won battles for them. His presence was powerful in the Holy of Holies. God’s presence was the sign that he was with them and for them.

And Psalm 16:11 tells us that in the presence of God “there is fullness of joy.” Imagine what the fullness of joy looks and feels like. What would it be like to have a real encounter with the fullness of joy today? In the fullness of joy there is no sorrow, worry, doubt, or fear. In the fullness of joy there is abundant life, peace, freedom, and love.

Psalm 43:4 says, “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy.” Consistently encountering the presence of our heavenly Father is the sole source of “exceeding joy” on this earth. Only in spending time going to his altar will we experience the joy that is our portion. Only in his presence will the joy of the Lord truly become our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Heavenly joy is an essential element to the Christian life. Joy isn’t something we are created to live without. It isn’t a pursuit secondary to other pursuits. Heavenly joy is a cornerstone on which we live lives that reflect the goodness, grace, love, and reality of our heavenly Father. Joy is meant to be the mouthpiece by which we declare how wonderful a relationship with God truly is.

In his book In Our Joy, John Piper writes, “But when God gives the radical change of new birth and repentance, Jesus himself becomes our supreme treasure.” Choose the better portion today of spending time encountering the fullness of joy that can only be found in the presence of God. Allow God to bring a radical change of new birth and repentance that positions Christ as your supreme treasure. And pursue heavenly joy today that you might demonstrate the surpassing kindness of your heavenly Father to a world that is desperately seeking what can only be found in restored relationship with him.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the fullness of joy available in the presence of God. Allow Scripture to stir up a desire to encounter the joy of the Lord today.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy.” Psalm 43:4

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Psalm 16:5-6

2. Ask the Lord to reveal his nearness. God is never far from you. His presence is with you. He longs to make himself known. Simply rest in the truth of his nearness and allow him to reveal himself to you.

“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” Psalm 84:3

3. Ask God to guide you into the fullness of joy available in his presence. Ask him to fill you with abundant joy that you might live today declaring his goodness to the world around you.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

“But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” John 17:13

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

I pray that as the bride of Christ we would grow in our knowledge of his nearness. I pray that we would walk in the fullness of relationship with our heavenly Father available to us on the earth. And I pray that we would grow in our reflection of God’s goodness to a world that longs to know him. May you pursue the presence of God with greater fervor as you go throughout your day. May you experience his nearness and live your life with the joy of the Lord as your strength.

Extended Reading: Psalm 16

Who, Me? How God Can Use You To Save the World..ALICE MATAGORA

 Who, Me? How God Can Use You To Save the World

ALICE MATAGORA

“They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.’” John 4:42 (NIV)

If there is anyone who can put to rest any doubts we may have that God could use our lives for His Kingdom, it’s the Samaritan woman. (John 4)

A woman in a patriarchal society, who had a shameful past and was living in sin.
A Samaritan, whose worship differed from that of the Jews.
An individual with very little theological exposure and nonexistent ministry experience.
An everyday, ordinary person.

Yet after a single encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman was faithful to share with those who lived around her what little she knew about Him. This all resulted in a radical movement of the gospel throughout Samaria to save the souls of people who other disciples would not reach until after Jesus’ return to heaven.

I can relate with the Samaritan woman. I didn't become a Christian until I was in high school, and even after becoming a Christian, I made poor decisions when it came to men.

When I really started walking with Jesus, I was also in the midst of a deep fog of depression and anxiety and was recovering from my eating disorders. And while those things aren’t sins, they were struggles that, for me, were tied to the life I had been living apart from Jesus.

Yet as a dear friend began to faithfully disciple me and share what they knew about walking with Jesus, I began to experience freedom from my sin, shame and struggles.

Jesus gave me strength to walk away from temptations that had previously ensnared me. I learned to let go of shame and embrace God’s grace. My depression and anxiety began to lift. I experienced eating-disorder recovery that I hadn’t experienced through all of the many treatments I had received up until that point. (Though please note that, as a licensed therapist, I am in full support of seeking out mental health services from a licensed professional. Jesus did an incredible work of healing in my life during this season, and He also used later therapy to help me dive deeper into recovery.)

But the craziest thing my discipler shared? That God could use my life to advance His Kingdom right now.

Who, me? I thought. How could God ever use someone like me for His Kingdom?

At the same time, like with the Samaritan woman, God ignited an overwhelming excitement in me to share with others what little I knew about having a relationship with God. I mean, did you know you can really have a relationship with God and He can transform your life? This is what the Samaritans experienced after the woman shared about her encounter with Jesus and they heard His words:

“They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world’” (John 4:42).

That was just the beginning. Since I first asked Who, me?, God has used that ordinary college student — a baby Christian, a woman with shame in her past and sin in her present — to help her family come to Christ. And not only that — He’s used me to help women all over the world learn how to have a relationship with Jesus and make Him known to those around them in their everyday lives, in their families, in their workplaces, in their classes, in their labs, in their mom groups, in their friendships, in their gaming communities. Next door to everywhere.

God can use you to advance His Kingdom to the ends of the earth.

Who, me? I didn’t grow up in the church.
Who, me? I haven’t even been a Christian for that long.
Who, me? God could never use someone with my past.
Who, me? I haven’t been to Bible college and have no formal ministry training or experience.
Who, me? I’m just a [wife, mother, daughter, sister, kid, grandmother, new Christian, barista, corporate executive, artist, student … the list goes on and on].

What could I do?

Sister, what could God do through you?

In the same way God could use me, in the same way God could use the Samaritan woman, God can use you to save the world, right where you live, right now. He has what it takes, and what you have is enough for Him to use.

The question is: Are we willing to step out in faith to do so? May it be so.

Heavenly Father, open our eyes to the ways You desire to use us in the lives of those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Overcoming Obstacles..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Overcoming Obstacles

Dr. Charles Stanley

Joshua 6:1-5

The Lord has a beautiful plan for each believer’s life. But to thwart God’s purposes, Satan sprinkles obstacles in our path.

There are many types of hindrances, such as a difficult boss, contrary family members, and financial trouble. Anything that blocks a desired goal can cause anxiety and great frustration. But remember that no obstacle can touch you without God’s consent.

Consider Joshua’s army, which was no match for Jericho’s military. And the great wall protecting that city was an impossible barrier to cross. Yet God had promised the Israelites the land, and Joshua believed. He wasn’t fazed by what seemed unconquerable. Instead, he acknowledged the Lord’s power and sought His guidance.

Before Joshua even realized that God was at work, the Lord was preparing the city for destruction by instilling fear into kings throughout the region. Heaven’s directions included an unlikely battle plan, but because Joshua obeyed, God’s people triumphed.

Waiting can be difficult. And after a while, we might even begin to wonder if God will do anything at all—then it is easy to quit. But, as was true with Joshua, God has gone before us and is preparing the way. No matter how He chooses to handle the problem, His solution is always in our best interest.

Whenever you face an obstacle, you may experience great heartache. But even in the midst of pain, you can have full confidence in God. The most important part of each day is the time you spend alone with the Lord. He will encourage you with His love and give direction.

God Sees You..Lynette Kittle

 God Sees You

By Lynette Kittle

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry” -Psalm 34:15

Do you ever feel lost in the crowd, like there are so many people in the world (7.8 billion at last count), or that your life doesn’t matter to God?

Scripture paints a very different picture of your value and importance to God. “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind” (Psalm 33:13).

Like Proverbs 15:3 explains, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

God is keeping an eye on everyone. Nothing that happens in the world is out of His view. As Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, “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.”

And God isn’t looking at you in passing, either. Psalm 11:4 tells us how, “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; His eyes examine them.”

But even more than God keeping watch over the earth, is the attention He gives to those who love Him, to those who belong to Him. As Psalm 34:15 points out, God is seeing you and attentive to your cries, hearing your needs, heartaches, and the longings of your heart. Being attentive means He is tuned into your voice.

As Psalm 102:19,20 describes, “The Lord looked down from His sanctuary on high, from heaven He viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”

You already have God’s attention. His eyes are set on you (Psalm 34:15). “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God” (Psalm 14:2).

Most exciting is how God is looking to strengthen you. 2 Chronicles 16:9 explains how the eyes of the Lord search throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

He’s not just watching and observing your ways and habits, He is actively looking to see how, when, and where He can help you where you need it most. God is seeking ways to strengthen and uplift you where you are weak.

Maybe you’ve found yourself in a situation where you feel so far away from God, one where you feel like you’ve so messed up, you don’t think He’d ever look to find you?

But nowhere is too far away or hidden so much that God can’t see you. Jeremiah 23:24 explains, “’Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’”

In the Old Testament of the Bible when Hagar, Sarah’s maid, conceived Abraham’s child, her conception of a child led her to despise her mistress. In return for Hagar’s disdain towards her, Sarah treated her harshly. So severely that it caused her to flee the situation. Yet God found Hagar in her brokenness, and when He did, it led her to recognize Him as the “God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

In your deepest, darkest moments when you feel far away from God, even if you helped caused the situation you’re living in, He sees you, hears your cries, and is ready to help you.

A Prayer to Renew My Trust in God..Kristine Brown

 A Prayer to Renew My Trust in God

By Kristine Brown

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” (Psalm 9:10 NLT)

I couldn’t understand why the insurance company would deny my request for the medical test I needed. Even with the doctor’s convincing explanation, the test wasn’t covered, so I would be responsible for the cost. Why would God allow this to happen? This test would have given us information on how to proceed with treatment. I left the doctor’s office discouraged and without answers. I needed to renew my trust in God to guide me through the confusion I felt.

In our lives, we will have times when we want answers. That need-to-know will lead our thoughts in a negative direction if we lose focus on the truth of Scripture. So we must remind ourselves that God is sovereign, and he knows the best plan for us. 

In Joshua 2, a woman named Rahab was given an opportunity that would change her life forever. She had a choice between doing what the world expected or trusting God’s sovereignty. Rahab chose to trust the Lord and step out in faith to help his people. She believed the Lord would do what He promised— protect her and her family. Rahab’s story inspires me to trust God when the odds are stacked against me.  

God honored Rahab by rescuing her when the walls of her home fell. As the Israelites came to conquer the city of Jericho, Rahab’s family was spared. From her example, we can be encouraged to demonstrate that same level of trust in our almighty God.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” (Psalm 9:10 NLT)

Things will not always go as we expect. Closed doors may cause us to try and figure out what went wrong. But in God we have hope. As I prayed and sought the Lord in my confusion over the denied test, I sensed renewed peace. Even though that door closed, other tests led the doctors to the right treatment path for me. God had a plan, and he beckoned me to trust him.

Are you facing a battle today that’s left you with more questions than answers? Are you feeling uncertain about your situation and your future? Let the truth of Rahab’s words help you renew your trust in God. “...For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” (Joshua 2:11) 

God works in the midst of our hurt when we don’t understand how things could possibly work out. He is faithful, and we can trust him. Let’s renew our trust in God today with this prayer.

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
Lately, I’ve been discouraged because I don’t have the answers. I don’t see how my situation will work out. I get confused and frustrated over closed doors. Forgive me for not trusting you in all things. Help me renew my trust in you.

I know you are present with me in my pain, and you are also working things out according to your perfect will. Even when I can’t see it, you are working on my behalf. I proclaim my faith in you, God. Let the words of Rahab in Joshua 2:11 be my battle cry when I struggle to trust, “For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” Thank you for your guiding hand in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Testing Positive..Annie Yorty

 Testing Positive

 By Annie Yorty

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV).

“Elizabeth tested positive for Covid. Were you around her at all?” Worry tinged my friend’s voice. I had met Elizabeth at the three-day conference that just ended. “Yeah, I sat at lunch with her one day.” My brain automatically calculated my proximity and amount of time spent with Elizabeth. Did I hug her?

Hundreds of people attended the same event where I sat with Elizabeth for lunch. In the week after it concluded, social media messaging flurried with the same question: 

Did you test positive?

We all felt relieved when we could answer “no.”

Shouldn’t Christians be asking themselves the same question? If there were a test kit for attitudes, would a red stripe reveal that you are positive? What does it mean to be positive?

Positive thinking gurus would say it’s all about affirmative thoughts and self-talk. Visualize yourself winning, and you’ll win. Verbalize that you’ll have enough finances for your needs, and you’ll be rolling in money. Everything turns out okay if you think it will.

A kernel of truth may underlie this belief about the importance of thoughts, but the positive thinking solution always falls short. It depends on man’s foolish thinking and desires rather than on the perfect mind and will of Christ.

A fake smile plastered on your face covering the pain and ugliness below the surface never produces true and lasting positivity. True and lasting positivity flows from a transformed mind, manifesting in words and actions that please God. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2 ESV).

If we could peek into the mind of Christ, we would see that Jesus never glossed over the sin and suffering that demanded He sacrifice His body on a cross to save us. He acknowledged the whole, sordid truth. Yet He remained positive because He knew the future joy salvation would bring (Hebrews 12:2).

We can exhibit a positive attitude by following Jesus’ example. In His fully human state, Jesus was tempted by ideas that oppose His Father God. In every instance of temptation, He battled its lure with God’s Word.

Likewise, we must pinpoint every thought that runs contrary to God’s will and capture it to conform it to the truth found in the Bible. Running our thoughts through the filter of God’s Word strains out lies and any desire against God.

Like Jesus, we can trust God’s goodness. It’s not because we believe He’ll make our lives rainbows and lollipops. Indeed, we all face struggles, pain, and disappointment. But God commits to helping you and staying with you through any situation. With Him by your side, there is nothing to fear (Hebrews 13:6).

Freedom from fear produces the power to test positive by kicking two positivity killers out of our minds. How often has worry darkened your thoughts?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6 ESV).

What about bitterness?

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV).

Some believe a good God would never allow a bad thing to happen. But in a sin-stained world, people make sinful choices with terrible results. If we misunderstand God’s character, we’ll be overrun by worry and bitterness. God promises to be with you and use every difficulty for a good purpose in your life (Romans 8:28). God’s sovereign control over this world guarantees ultimate good for each of His children.

So, my friends, do you test positive? And is your positivity contagious? We all know how quickly a virus can spread from person to person. In the same way, do we disperse our belief in God’s goodness to everyone we meet? Can we contact trace our positivity?

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What worries and bitterness might be festering in a corner of your heart, destroying your positivity? Can you find any additional Scripture references to help you understand the mind of Christ?

Further Reading:
Philippians 4:4-9