Fields United Methodist Church

Day 26. Take Time to Be Holy

April 28, 2020

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11

Read: Psalm 16

One of the feelings of thanksgiving (I know that it is seven months away but I think ahead) is that of being full. But after a few days, the fullness subsides and the feeling of emptiness returns. Not so with being filled with the joy of Jesus; that feeling is never-ending. There was a man at the first church I served who always witnessed this kind of “fullness,” even when he was hungry, he was full; AC’s witness lifted the hearts of all he met because he had the “joy” of the Lord. What I knew about AC was that he always, always “bragged on Jesus;” he never missed an opportunity to fill another with his faithful witness.  He was on the “path” where he seemed always to be in the presence of God; always told me he was in good hands, cupping his hands together, raising them to the sky. In the last week or so of his life he was on a ventilator in the ICU. I walked in one day to see him and noted the nurses and equipment to help keep him alive and just said, “AC, you are in good hands.” Indignant, he raised his cupped hands telling me whose hands were carrying him; he had the fullness of joy in the Lord’s presence in that moment and forevermore. Jesus offers all who believe the fullness of joy, the feeling of the eternal presence of God. Joy is the feeling of security, “leaning on the everlasting arms” of Jesus.  To be filled with the “fullness of joy” in Jesus is to let go and allow God through our living Savior Jesus Christ to be your guide; to have the confidence to raise your hands and proclaim, “Jesus, I am yours, today and forever.”  Start “bragging on Jesus,” and you will be a blessing as you have been blessed by the fullness of joy offered by the Lord.

How can you “brag on Jesus?”

Who do you know witnessed a deep faith that brought you into the “presence of God?”

How are you taking time to be holy today?

Prayer:  Jesus, lead me in the path of life where there is fullness of joy, where no matter what life brings, I know you are with me. Help me to witness your joy to others. Amen