THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE

15 Happy are the people who know the joyful shout;
LORD, they walk in the light from your face.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long,
and they are exalted by your righteousness.
17 For you are their magnificent strength. (Psalm 89:15-17)

The only reason that a true follower of Christ should not be overcome with joy is if they have been distracted from the presence of the Lord ... if they have let the world and its allurements, and the devil and his lies and temptations, and their flesh and its weakness pull them away from the throne room of heaven.

I'm not saying we do not face moments of burden or intense sorrow. Jesus did. But the normative emotion of those who genuinely walk in the presence of Christ is joy.

For those who have learned that everything flows from the presence of the Lord, and have devoted themselves to rising daily, consecrating themselves and entering the throne room of heaven (which is open for all those who believe,) then joy should be their constant portion for “In Your presence is fullness of joy and in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11)

WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY?
Listen to the Psalmist In Psalm 89:15-17 who had turned from the gods of the world and realized that the most important part of life is to be focused on the Lord’s presence … to draw near to God.

"THEY KNOW THE JOYFUL SHOUT"
They have heard the singing of heaven. If they are blessed to be in a church that knows how to pray and enter into God’s presence, they hear it there, and their hearts are regularly thrilled by the shouts of the redeemed. The songs of the faith thrill them. They love to join a congregation of believers whose hearts are thrilled by the songs of heaven. They’ve been in places and moments where God’s presence is so thick that they shout for joy.

If they have learned how to pray without ceasing and live in "everything by prayer" they will find themselves shouting regularly--in their car, their home, their office--as they experience the nearness and overwhelming sufficiency of God's grace.

"THEY WALK IN THE LIGHT OF HIS FACE"
The word that is translated “presence” in the Old Testament is “paneem,” and it is here translated in its most basic form, “face.” It is used 2100 times in the Old Testament, sometimes referring to a physical face, but often to the presence of God.

You cannot see someone’s face without being in their near presence. How happy, the Psalmist said, are those who have drawn near to the Lord and He has drawn near to them and who live and move every day in the “light from Your face.” His face illuminates everything.

They also know that one day they will be with Him with no interruption, and there will be no need for artificial lights, for they have the clear brilliance of His face.

"THEY REJOICE IN YOUR NAME ALL DAY LONG"
If you are regularly in the Lord’s presence, drawing near to Him, His NAME will bring joy to you. God is called by dozens of names to help us know the variegated beauty of His character.

If we are men and women of Word-driven prayer, we will come daily to “Our Father, who is in heaven” and “Hallow (magnify, exalt, think on, be blessed by) His name.” Just to think of His names and nature is to be lifted from the dark sorrow of this world.

"THEY ARE EXALTED BY YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"
We live in a world of injustice and unrighteousness. Things are not right, and it breaks our hearts and robs us of joy. But in God’s presence “righteousness and justice are the foundation of (His) throne (Psalm 89:14).

If we are with Him continually and consciously aware of His presence, we are reminded that this world is not our home and we are soon to be in a place where “righteousness dwells;” where everything is just and all around us is right.

"FOR YOU ARE THEIR MAGNIFICENT STRENGTH"
We lack strength, and our arms get tired, and our legs weary. Our soul gets beaten down by the darkness around us. Our bodies are daily decaying, and we often lose strength.

But those who “wait on the Lord” are renewed with strength like the eagle. They can run and not get weary and walk and not faint, even in old age.

Why? How could this possibly be? Because they are daily drawing near to the presence of God and GOD HIMSELF is their strength. His endurance is everlasting, and His strength is inexhaustible. They fear nothing, for they know they will have grace that is always sufficient for whatever they face. This confidence—His strength—brings them joy!

God desires to have a continual, daily, personal relationship with us, but we must cooperate. His presence is our greatest need, and our presence with Him is His great delight. He created us to be with Him and calls us there, knocking on our heart’s door continually and waiting for us to open the door and be changed by His nearness.

For those who live in His presence, how great is the reward!