Delighting in God

Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this,
that he understandeth and knoweth me,
that I am the LORD which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth:
for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

What do you get excited about? What lights up your life, puts a smile on your face, and a bounce in your step? What are you the most passionate about in your life?

The world glories in achievements in education, athletics, or economics – mind, body, or wealth. They honor those with intelligence, strength or speed, and riches. Such delight is foolish and vain. Each one of those things declines and disappears.

Each one is vain and frustrating. A man with accomplishments will meet other men with greater accomplishments in the same field. He cannot buy his health, and he cannot avoid death. Getting excited about such things is a waste of effort and time.

You miss your best life two ways, if you do not delight in Him. First, you miss the excitement, fulfillment, and pleasure of delighting in the only perfect Person and Object in the universe – God. Second, you miss His reward of your heart’s desires.

How can you delight in God? It means to take pleasure in Him, to boast about Him, to glory in Him, to rejoice in Him, to be glad in Him, to take pleasure in Him, and to find sweetness in Him. The Bible uses all these terms and more to describe it.

What is there about God to delight in? Are you kidding? He is perfect in every respect, and any one of His attributes is enough. Think power, wisdom, humor, beauty, holiness, salvation, tenderness, terribleness, judgments, providence, etc.

Who delighted in God? David did. God’s favorite. Read the Psalms for passionate praise and excitement about God. When he moved the ark, he danced with all his might. When raising money for the temple, it had to be exceeding magnifical.

Delighting in God will help you live righteously (Ps 4:4), serve better (II Kgs 10:16), enjoy life with great gladness (Hab 3:17-19), and obtain God’s blessings (Is 58:14).

You can delight in God. Read His word to learn about Him. Embrace public worship for Him. Meditate and muse on Him. Boast of Him to others. Celebrate (Deut 14:26)!