Delight

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you the truth in a world that thinks there are many truths.  It’s timely, it gives reminders, and structures, patterns.  Patterns that lead to death and patterns that lead to life.  It changes misperceptions, first about God and then about ourselves.  I’m so thankful for PRISM – those five things you can do in God’s Word every day.  Truly, it is life changing, because it’s mind changing.  God’s Word is guaranteed success!  It’s the only guaranteed success in life.  His Word will change your mind and change your life.  Psalms 35:27   May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”  My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.  I’m amazed at how much God says in few words.  The opposite of most people, who can talk a lot yet say little.  This is an interesting passage about delight.  Those who delight in the vindication of the righteous, but most importantly – what God delights in.  We know that verse well, Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.  When your greatest desire and delight is in Him, He changes your desires to what is best and best for you, and then He brings them to pass.  But here is why he does that.  Because He delights in the well-being of his servants.  Those who fear Him, who delight themselves in Him.  Who put Him first, who worship and follow Him, who do what He tells them to do, at the time He tells them to do it.  Followers, not fans… His true servants – He delights in their well-being. He’s so glad when they do well, and is always trying to help them get there.  Its funny how many have come to think that God doesn’t like us, or wants to punish us more than bless us.  We get the mentality that God wants us to be poor and struggling and burdened.  We can’t be doing too well, something bad is about to happen.  Where did that thinking come from?  Maybe an upbringing at home or church that instilled it, maybe guilt from sinful choices past, or maybe seeing the obvious error of those who think godliness is a means of gain… we settle into that life-limit mentality that things are just always going to be hard.  But that's not what God’s Word says.  Yes “In this world you will have trouble but be of good courage and good cheer – I have overcome the world.”  Even though struggles will come – the struggle is minor compared to the joy.  God delights in your well-being.  That means He is delighted to see you do well.  When you humble yourself and obey, when you learn to walk in His ways, when you are thankful and joyful, the results of wisdom start taking effect in your life.  This is not pleasure seeking – it’s well-being.  God delights in it for you!  When you learn to walk in God’s way, not man’s way – His blessings become your lifestyle – not the exception.  When you mature in your thoughts (by His Word) and your words (By His Word) and your obedience (by His Word) – you start doing well, no matter what situation you face.  Those self-inflicted crises don’t happen as much, and you learn to walk in the fear of the LORD, in His wisdom – and His blessing.  Your life becomes established in His ways.  You do well, and He is delighted.  A storm may eventually come, but you are not focused on it or worried about it.  You are focused on something else.  And God tells you what your focus should be – the next verse.  My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.  It’s talking about God delighting in your well-being, but your tongue isn’t speaking of your well-being – or what you want next.  Your tongue - is talking all day long about His righteousness and His praises.  That’s how you can tell someone who is doing well, or about to do well.  It’s what people who do well – do.  Those who God delights in their well-being are always talking about His righteousness and His praises – not about how they are doing, or what bad might happen.  So what are you talking about?  What is your tongue telling about all day long.  Praying that you will do what God tells you – so you do well, so God can be delighted in how you are doing.  Praying that you will always tell of His righteousness and His praises - who He is, and what He does – all day long.  Praying that you will delight God, by doing well.  Well-doing becomes well-being.  And God delights in it.  His Word gives you the instructions step by step.  Praying that you delight yourself in His Word – so you delight yourself in Him, so you do well, so He can be delighted in how well you are doing!  He loves you – He loves to see it!
 
Love you all,
dad