JOY

JOY

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalms 16:11 (NASB)

I sat quietly as the eastern sky stirred to wakefulness.  There were a few small clouds sitting above the mountains and I watched in wonder as an unseen hand painted the clouds in varying shades of pink.  It was a glorious sunrise and I savored it on this my last day of vacation.

A stirring caught my attention and I turned my gaze in the direction of the sound and smiled.  Gracie, our ten-week old golden retriever puppy had been leisurely exploring when she suddenly took off at a full run.  Her little legs were going as fast as she could get them to go, her tail was straight out behind her as she rounded the corner.  She hit the stone pathway, pebbles flying hither and yon and then in a bound she jumped, her feet briefly touching a large boulder which she used as a launching pad and suddenly she was airborne, her legs stretched out, her ears flying in the wind and then she tumbled into the large lantana bush, all but disappearing into its prolific blooms.

There was momentary rustling as her shining eyes peered out from amongst the flowers and then I laughed with delight as she got up and began the routine all over again.  If dogs are able to feel joy there is no doubt that was exactly what Gracie was experiencing.  An hour later, worn out from play, Gracie and I went back to the house and I carried joy images with me to the Well.

I began my quiet time by reading The Valley of Vision.

            THE THRONE

O God of my delight, thy throne of grace is the pleasure ground of my soul.  Here I obtain mercy in time of need, here see the smile of thy reconciled face, here joy pleads the name of Jesus, here I sharpen the sword of the Spirit, anoint the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, gather manna from thy Word, am strengthened for each conflict, nerved for the upward race, empowered to conquer every foe.

I continued on and then read the ending over and over again.

May I never forget that thy eye always sees, thy ear always hears, thy recording hand always writes.  May I never give thee rest until Christ is the pulse of my heart; the spokesman of my lips, the lamp of my feet.

My heart bowed low in the presence of Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords and read the words out loud, turning them into a prayer.  He breathed across my soul and He took me to His Word where I read Psalm 16.  Why don’t you join me?

 Keep me safe, O God,
     for in you I take refuge. ² I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
     apart from you I have no good thing." ³ As for the saints who are in the land,
     they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. ⁴ The sorrows of those will increase
     who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
     or take up their names on my lips. ⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
     you have made my lot secure. ⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
     surely I have a delightful inheritance. ⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
     even at night my heart instructs me. ⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
     Because he is at my right hand,
     I will not be shaken. ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
     my body also will rest secure, ¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the grave,
     nor will you let your Holy One see decay. ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life;
     you will fill me with joy in your presence,
     with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalms 16:1-11 (NIV)

As I read David’s words my soul began to run, picking up speed with each note of the Psalmist’s song to the Lord.  Reaching the end, my soul took flight and I soared into the vastness of His grace and the eyes of my heart saw Him as I tumbled at His feet and all but disappeared, immersed in His presence and His laughter filled the heavens and I was filled with joy!

An Original Conversations at the Well

© Copyright by Diana Morgan, August 12, 2012