Living Joyfully: Delight Is a Two-Way Street

True Prosperity

Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night… Whatever they do prospers. — Psalm 1:1-3

Imagine if everything you set your hand to turned out just beautifully. Think of the satisfaction, the sense of accomplishment, and the joy that would bring to your heart!

The first three verses of Psalm 1 give us some criteria for making this happen. One of those criteria is to “delight… in the law of the LORD [and meditate] on his law day and night.” Mind you, the “law of the LORD” does not consist of the man-made laws invented by some denominations, but the pure, unchanged, and unchanging Word of God. In order to “delight” and to “meditate” on the law of God, we must first study it, and this means reading the Word carefully, prayerfully, and studiously every day (“day and night”).

Many people who’ve made it a lifelong habit to read the Bible daily insist that, as many times as they’ve read the same verses, they learn something new every day.

God’s Word is as fresh and new and instructive today as it was two thousand years ago.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word, the Bible. Teach me to delight in Your law.

Delighted

He rescued me because He delighted in me. — Psalm 18:19

Unfortunately, there are many people who can’t grasp how great God’s love is for them personally. Because we’re His creations, He cherishes us — each of us. In various parts of the Bible He calls us “the apple of His eye,” or His “beloved,” or “the one He loves.” In Psalm 18:19, He tells us He “delight[s]” in us!

Think of how you delight in a baby’s smile, or how you delighted in your engagement ring, or how a forest after the rain delights your senses. Then imagine how God must have clapped His hands and laughed when you took your first breath. He was delighted! And now He still delights in you, “warts and all.” It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday or ten years ago; if you’ve repented of those sins, He delights in you.

You can also delight in the Lord. Having the God of the universe love you personally, deeply, and unconditionally should, in itself, overwhelm you with joy.

Your love, O Lord, is overwhelming. Thank You for delighting in me. I delight in You also my God, my Savior, and my Friend.

Excerpted with permission from 365 Devotions for Living Joyfully by Victoria York, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Isn’t delight a wonderful word? But, seriously, how much time do you spend experiencing delight and feeling feeling in each day? Or month?! This year, I want to delight in the Lord and His Word more than I ever have before. And, I want to sense His delight in me! How about you? Come share your thoughts with us on our blog! We want to hear from you about living joyfully! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full