The Delight of the Lord

Psalm 37
v.3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
v.4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
v.5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
v.6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37 is one of the rich sources that can be revisited many times and always come away with reassurance and the conviction that God is not out of reach or far off in the heavenlies counting angels. 

Our relationship with God is interactive in the here and now. There are no "canned" responses with God or any "programmed" exchanges where all we have to do is act a certain way and receive a blessing down the chute from heaven.

The part we are responsible for is the attitude and the intent of our thoughts and our will. We have to wrestle with our own nature, and on our own, it is, and always has been, a losing proposition. But as we start out, and do our best, God meets us and strengthens our resolve, fortifying our determination. He wants us to succeed -- He is cheering for us. It has to be our choice and our action, but God will level the playing field and put the wind at our back, giving us the home court advantage.

"Trust in the Lord and do good." Depend on God for what you need. You still have to go out and do your day's work, taking care of what you are able to do, giving full, honest measure to those you are dealing with. But for those things you have no control over, rather than worrying, fretting, scheming, or calculating, put that time to use by thinking on Him, thanking Him, acknowledging and confessing who He is to you. 

"Take delight in the Lord." There is so much joy to be had in the Lord. At times our circumstances of finance, relationship, health, employment, and so much more may pull down on our thoughts and feelings. If we do what we can about them, and then, having done it, give the rest to God to finish and stand in His promise to supply all our needs, then we can release the weight of the concern and the burden of the "what if...". As that pressure lifts, we find we can take a deep, relaxed breath, and we realize how pressed down we have been, and we can now straighten up and see the world around us with new eyes. The spontaneous laughter that comes with the relief of knowing that God holds the future in His hands bubbles up as joy surges through us and we feel light enough to run and jump and dance before the Lord, Who takes delight in us as we delight in Him.

"Commit your way to the Lord." Turn to Him when you have decisions to make. Whether they are choices for yourself or for others, lean on His wisdom, seek Him for understanding, trust Him to give leading and guidance. This is a matter of turning your heart to God daily, having time that you spend shutting out the world and its cares so you can focus on Him, not seeking His answers or His blessings, not looking at His hand but rather at His face. Understanding that He is your God, your Father, your Friend that sticks closer than a brother, you find that you can talk things out, express what is in your heart, never fearing condemnation or reproach, but knowing always that you are accepted and valued and considered worth spending time with. How can one not find it enjoyable to take time with Someone who gives you their full attention? You discover He is trustworthy and dependable, and you feel the confidence that He will not fail you, even when times come up when you fail Him. Give Him your plans, heed His advice as you read His Word, and depend on God to direct your paths. You will not fail when you follow Him.

Psalm 27
v.7 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.
v.8 My heart says of You, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.
v.14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

​​Lord and Savior, we declare our trust in You. There is no one else who has promised what You have and given, as proof of Your intention, as much as You have. We understand that You have already done everything that is required to meet any needs we have, so how can we doubt Your willingness? You are worthy of our love, of our trust, and of our obedience, Lord, and we willing follow, to the best of our understanding and ability, the directions and paths You lead us on.

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