Delight Yourself in the Lord

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4

God is pleased when you are delighted in Him.

Have you ever baked cookies or a cake and enjoyed watching someone you love enjoy it? There is joy just in knowing that you caused that delight. Even more than that, have you ever come home to a child running to you with open arms? They were delighted by your presence, and you felt the love in that tight embrace. God is pleased when we are delighted to be with Him. That is the kind of relationship He wants with you—the kind where you look forward to going to Him in prayer. The kind where you walk outside delighting in the creation He formed for your enjoyment and are overwhelmed with gratitude. The kind where you read His Word and get excited about His promises.

Prayer should not seem like a chore. It should seem like time to talk with your best friend. Reading God’s Word should be more than a duty or errand. It should be exciting to hear from God, to learn from Him, and know more of Him. Relationships that feel like obligations end up being shallow and unsatisfying for both parties. There is a feeling of unfulfillment. Psalms 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Closeness to God will inevitably bring joy into your life. It is not that fake, plastered on smile that Christians sometimes feel obligated to wear. It is true delight and contentment.

Perhaps this is not the kind of relationship you have had with God to this point, but you desire this kind of gladness in Him. You want to be eager to spend time with Him in prayer and enthusiastic about reading His Word. Today is the day to make some changes in the way you think about prayer, Bible reading, and ultimately, the way you think about God.

Think about it.

What is it about relationships that make them enjoyable? One aspect is confiding in someone with information you wouldn’t offer to anyone else. Consider your prayer time as a time to confide in your best friend. Prayer doesn’t have to be rehearsed and formal. What is it that has been bothering you? What struggles have you had? What have you been wondering about or contemplating? Do you need direction or counsel? Be real in prayer. Then make your requests known, and don’t forget to give thanks and praise to your God.

Some may think that God cannot speak back, but this is not true. One common way He speaks to us is through His Word. After praying, look in God’s Word, and ask Him for direction to the right scriptures. Have you been praying about anxiety? Search God’s Word for verses about anxiety. Have you been praying about your marriage? Look for answers in God’s Word about marriage. God’s Word and discerning the direction of the Holy Sprit takes time. Relationships take time. Give this time to God, and watch your relationship with Him flourish into delight.

Read about it.

Read 112:1-10 and Psalms 1:1-3 to understand what happens when you delight in God’s Word and His commands. Consider James 4:8, which tells us what inspires God to draw near to us. If you have difficulties with delighting in wealth or other material gains, read Matthew 6:33.

Pray about it.

Lord, Savior, and Friend, you have been so merciful to me. You have surrounded me with goodness and love. You have provided for my basic needs, and you have placed me among the beauty of your creation. All of my needs are met in you. Bring all of this to my mind continually so I can delight in the goodness of your grace and in your presence in my life. In Jesus name.