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90 Days of Prayer Day Sixty-Three
The Pleasure of His Presence
Psalm 16:11
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
The Place of Faith
It was in God’s Presence that David learned the blessing of resting in faith. He opens this Psalm with a prayer for safety, and professes that God is his refuge. In an environment where idol worship was common, David kept his eyes on the Lord; knowing that in God’s Presence he would receive wise counsel and instructions. This entire psalm is a declaration of David’s understanding and love of God’s Presence. David received his faith and assurance from God.
The verb translated “You make known to me” in this passage reads “You cause me to know.” This is an awareness of how things actually are and the way things will be. David was taught this way of life in God Presence, and understood with certainty, how things will end up for those who followed God and those who followed idols. David’s soul was at rest in the Presence of the God who secured his future.
The Place of Rest
You can learn so many things from David’s passionate relationship with God. One of the greatest lessons you will learn is to find your rest in God’s Presence. God becomes your refuge in times of trouble and your shelter from the storms of life. It is here where you will discover the rest of faith, putting an end to all your needless struggles for present security, and receiving the assurance that your future is in God’s hands.
Your mind begins to grow calm and your heart becomes relaxed in God’s Presence. Isaiah learned this lesson and wrote “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Isaiah knew that God’s people experienced peace during turbulent times resting safely trusting in God. Isaiah had a calm mind and unshakable faith by resting in the Presence of God.
You too will experience the same blessings by making God’s Presence your continual dwelling place. Like David, you will be overwhelmed by the fullness of joy in God’s Presence. Keep in mind that the Hebrew word for Presence means “face.” Now imagine the peace and joy that will flood your soul knowing that God keeps His eyes on you at all times. In His Presence you too will say “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7), and God will say “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).
The Place of Grace
By Grace through faith were you saved (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24), and it is by grace through faith you will continue to live (Colossians 2:6). You have been redeemed to enjoy intimacy with God and the benefits of His Holy Spirit’s counsel. Like David, God will make known to you the correct path of life. Like David, you will be taught the way of life from God Himself, and you’ll come to understand with certainty, how things will end up for those who followed God and those who followed don’t.
From the vantage point of God’s Presence, you will know with certainty that the way of this world “is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20-21). You will be resting securely living by God’s grace through faith. No struggles to make your way into His Presence, no condemnation awaits you there, only the rest of faith that comes from face to face conversations with Him.
Become accustomed to the Holy Spirit’s counsel as He unfolds to you the way of life that pleases God and blesses you. You will discover that in God’s Presence the fullness of joy really is your strength. You will say as David did; “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence” (Psalm 21:6).
So come and make yourself at home in God’s Presence. Let Him show you the path of life. Be secure, be calm, be filled with His joy, and Be Encouraged! -JSP