What a Delight!

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4

That sounds great, but how is one to muster up delight in God when everything around them seems to be going wrong? The Word admonishes us to take our eyes off the circumstances and fix them on Christ who is the true source of our delight. It makes a whole lot of difference when we try to understand that Christ is the true source of the believer’s delight. 

God’s Word is a powerful force in our lives. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” The promises in God’s word make our lives stable, fruitful and resilient.  The person who builds their life in the Word of God will be like a tree whose leaves do not wither. Trees fall into two categories, either evergreen or (deciduous – when they loose their leaves during winter). 

We all face time of discouragements ranging from sickness, adversity, failures, relationships and other problems.  The Lord will give us the ability to be delightful when we focus on him.  We can weather the coldest winter and the darkest night and still remain strong in Jesus! I am reminded of Mordecai, in the biblical story of Esther, he is characterized by his compassion, wisdom, courage, faith, and integrity. He was also known for his loyalty and devotion to God, even when faced with difficult circumstances.  The story highlights his willingness to stand up for his beliefs and the ability to use his position to protect his people. He rose from being a gate keeper to being second in rank to the king! Mordecai delighted in God and allowed him to handle his enemies as the story is told in the book of Esther. This was the Lord’s doing!

The analogy of leaves of the tree represents our testimony to the world, evidence of having life in Jesus. You can be that evergreen tree, who stands as a witness to the world of God’s goodness. Being rooted in the Word of God, will keep us steady as well as healthy with the ability to bring glory to God.

Pray your response to the Lord personally, meaningfully and genuinely.

Reflection:

Setbacks in our lives can be considered as brand new opportunities to serve God in ways we never imagined.