Do you take pleasure in God ?

Wednesday, 1 March 2023

Do you take pleasure in God ?

Search the Scriptures

Delight in the Lord, and he will give you what your heart desires. Psalm 37.4

Notice that first phrase : "Delight in the Lord." I once heard someone ask the following question to a group of people : "Do you live your religion with joy or do you support it ?"

I think for most people religion is something they have to endure. It is like an unpleasant duty they are required to perform, but it is not the way God wants us to experience life with him. He does not want us to endure his presence ; he wants her to make us happy.

The Westminster Confession, which is the basic doctrinal statement of Presbyterians, expresses the following : "The supreme duty of man is to glorify God and to delight in him forever".

Have you ever thought about take pleasure in God ? God says : "delight in me and I will fill you with the desires of your heart". It doesn't mean that God will accomplish everything we think or wish. Rather, he means by this that he will put new desires within us, "divine" desires that he will grant because he put them in our hearts in the first place.

All of this happens when we delight in the Lord, when we find real joy, real pleasure, and genuine satisfaction in our personal relationship with the Lord. Then we are invaded by the blessed peace flowing from the desires that he himself has placed in our hearts and that he wants to share with us, desires whose fulfillment will benefit us.

Listen the voice of God

What about us ? Are we living a fulfilling relationship in communion with God ? Let's take time to search our hearts and hear what God wants to say to us.

Pray, talk to God as a friend. He loves you and wants to help you. Here is an example of a prayer : “Lord, I desire with all my heart to delight in your presence ! Help me to rid myself of all religious conformity. presence."

Praise God

To praise God is to express our gratitude to him. Today you can recall times when, in fellowship with God, you felt deep joy in the midst of your distress. You have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, filled with new desires, and made good decisions or a new direction. Take time to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now, deepen what you have received. As you read God's Word, take the time to note the passages that have encouraged you, given you happiness, and helped you to persevere in faith. Share them with those around you who are going through difficult times. This too is a great source of blessing and joy.

Honor the Lord

Our journey for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Lord, you come to anoint us with the oil of joy in your presence. To you be the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

Derek Prince

Source (The Thought of the Day)