Reading: Luke 5, Psalm 37:4

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

What do you delight in? What lifts your joy, causes you to laugh, and makes you smile? This verse invites us to delight ourselves in the Lord. The word translated as “delight” is a Hebrew word that means to “be light, to bubble with happiness, to make merry and have fun.” Think about this: The Lord wants you to have fun in your relationship with Him!

Many people imagine God as a demanding and slightly annoyed father who always looks for us to perform better, pray a little longer, work harder, etc. But God wants us to have joy as we walk with Him. Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Mat 11:29-30 NLT]). While following Jesus involves self-denial and obedience, the things we surrender to follow Him are weights from which He longs to free us!

This means we need to permit ourselves to celebrate His unconditional love for us. We can only really delight ourselves in the Lord when we know how much God delights in us! In Luke 15, Jesus spent an entire chapter revealing just how delighted God is in the return of His children. Just like the father who celebrated the return of his wayward son, God wants to put a ring on our finger, a robe on our back, and throw a big party to celebrate us! (Luke 15:22-24).

The Prophet Zephaniah said, “The LORD our God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing." (Zep 3:17 NIV). The Father is so delighted in you that He is composing and singing songs about you!

Now, if God is this joyful in us, how can we not respond by delighting ourselves in Him? When we allow our hearts to fully delight in the Lord and live before Him with lightness and joy - it provokes Him to respond. When He sees us celebrate Him, His heart is moved with generosity. He gives us the desires of our hearts. There may be many things our flesh wants, but God knows how to bless us in ways that satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts.

As you go to the Lord today, consider how much God loves you – even with imperfections and missteps. God does not see you as merely a servant from which He demands service. He sees you as a child in whom He delights. He will perfect the things that concern you. He will finish the work He began in you. Can you see Him singing songs over you? Can you see the smile on His face as He looks at you? Can you see His open Hands stretched out to receive you? Now, begin to open your mouth and praise Him. Celebrate your wonderful new Father. Sing back to Him joy. In your journal, write a prayer of celebration back to Him. Now watch what He does next!

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