The Joy Of Following God

The Joy of Following God

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16:11

What does this psalm say you get when you follow God? Joy! There is delight in doing what God wants because only then are we doing what we were created to do. We are accomplishing our purpose. We are operating from the gifts he put within us. We are following the counsel of an all-knowing God and experiencing the countless benefits that come with that. We’re not harming others and being eaten alive with guilt. We’re not continually embarrassing ourselves (and those who love us) with our behavior.

But how in the world can we do what the Lord wants? By surrendering to him and immersing ourselves in his Word. When we do, we will begin to delight in doing what God has planned. Thinking about his law and his ways brings true joy, not only to our hearts but to God’s heart as well. And that joy is contagious, for when those around us see God’s joy in us, we won’t be able to keep them away from him. —CHERI

More than anything in this world, Lord, I want to make you happy. I want to do and be all that you planned when you created me. It’s your counsel I want to follow, your side I want to be on, and your heart I ask you to shape in mine. Help me to continually think of you and the words you wrote, that I might experience your joy. May I be a source of joy to your heart.

Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.

—LEON HENRI MARIE BLOY (1846–1917), FRENCH NOVELIST, ESSAYIST, AND POET