LIVING IN GOD'S LOVE AND PRESENCE

“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

In a world that constantly shifts and shakes, where happiness often depends on circumstances, and peace seems fleeting, there is a divine invitation extended to us each day—to live in the unchanging love and powerful presence of God. To walk the path of life, not with fear or weariness, but with joy abiding. God-given joy.

David’s words in Psalm 16:11 remind us that fullness of joy is not found in achievements, possessions, or the approval or applause of others. It is found in God’s presence. His love, steady and eternal, becomes the path that leads us not only to purpose but to a life filled with pleasure.

God has not left us to wander aimlessly through life. He has marked a clear path for us, a path of love, grace, and joy. When we walk this path, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are led into a joy that surpasses human understanding, one that endures through every season and storm.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 14:17

We are not citizens of this world but of the Kingdom of Heaven, and in this kingdom, joy is not optional, it is the atmosphere. It is the mark of God’s Spirit at work within us. This joy is not based on outward comfort but on inward communion. It is rooted in the reality that we are fully known, loved, and eternally secure in Christ Jesus.

But there is a choice to make. Each day, we face the decision to anchor ourselves in God’s love or be swept into the stress, insecurity, and despair of the world. The enemy would love nothing more than to rob us of the joy that the death of Jesus on the cross gives us. He tempts us with empty pursuits, with anxious thoughts, with distractions dressed as delight. But he is a defeated foe.

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." — 1 John 4:4

The Holy Spirit who dwells in us is stronger. He leads us not into striving but into stillness; not into fear but into faith. He beckons us to drink deeply from the well of joy that flows from the heart of God.

When we build our lives on God’s love, when we allow His affection to define us, steady us, and move through us, we become people of joy. Joy becomes our posture, our perspective, and our power. And it becomes contagious. A life lived in God’s presence is a testimony to the world of what it means to be truly alive.

Paul inside the prison admonishes us in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Let this be the cry of your heart today: to rejoice in the Lord, not just in the good moments but in all moments. Let your life be a living celebration of God’s love. As you love Him and allow His love to flow through you to others, may you encounter joy that cannot be explained, only experienced.

Stay blessed,

Pastor Ranti Orioke