“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

The world seeks pleasure in many different ways. According to Martin Seligman’s work on positive psychology, two pleasures appear in various places, including bodily pleasure and higher pleasure. Bodily or sensory pleasures include eating, playing physical games, intercourse, stroking (or being stroked), observing beauty, experiencing pleasant smells, and hearing good music. Higher pleasure has been described as spiritual or intellectual. Higher pleasures are derived from internal thought, cognitive effort, and spiritual striving, whereas bodily pleasures are derived from external stimulation. Higher pleasures can be found in the past, present, and future because thinking can travel back and forth in time, as opposed to the bodily present-only limitation.

God has designed every human being to enjoy the pleasures of life. However, worldly pleasures outside of God only bring forth death and destruction. He wants us to know and experience the positive and good pleasures that life has to offer through the finished work of Jesus at the cross. Jesus took upon Himself the agony of suffering and death so that He could give you the pleasures of enjoying an abundant life. The offering and sacrifice of Jesus at the cross pleases God so much that He pleases Him to grant eternal life through the love of Christ for all who believe in Jesus. (Ephesians 5:2)

Today, your life is in Christ, and you are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are saved. (2 Corinthians 2:15) This means that God takes pleasure in you at every moment of your life, regardless of what you feel or have done. Since you are His pleasure, it is His pleasure to prosper you in your health, relationships, wealth, and destiny. It gives God pleasure to see you over-abundantly blessed with life. It gives God pleasure for you to enjoy the fullness of joy in His presence as you commune with Him. It gives God pleasure to see you come to Him in every struggle or trouble you may be facing today, as it is in His power to grant you victories through them all. God wants you to enjoy the pleasures of good health, family and social relationships, more-than-enough wealth, and a life with purpose so you can have pleasure in blessing the people around you. Jesus, who is now sitting at the right hand of God, is your source of pleasures forevermore. It is God’s will for you to receive and enjoy the pleasures He has in store for you superabundantly!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 149:4

This Devotional is from:

“Live The New You – 365 Days Devotional in Living the Real You”