What Brings You Delight?

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." 

Psalm 37:4

Merriam-Webster dictionary describes delight as, 

a high degree of gratification or pleasure

Sometimes we believe the lie that spending time with the Lord is a burdensome task. 

We think of it as hard. 
We think we don't have enough time. 
Oh! But when we actually set aside time in the morning, or afternoon, or evening, 

to sit at the feet of Jesus, it is delightful!

So why do we neglect this precious opportunity we have to be
filled, renewed, and strengthened?

Who doesn't want to be reminded of the unconditional 
Love of their Father and to bask in that love, 
soaking up every ray?

Which one of us doesn't long for guidance and direction 

in all areas of our life?

How could we pass up an invitation to release our 
worries and anxieties to Someone who 
offers to take them from us?

But...if we are honest, most of us have not cultivated this
most important area of our life. We have not intentionally
set aside time every day to read, meditate, 
and memorize God's Word and to spend time in prayer.
Even though I have experienced this to be such a sweet time, 
so many times I allow something to come and steal this 
time away.   

I implore you to make this a habit of most importance! 

It will change your life! 

God's Word is alive and powerful, sharper than a 

double-edged sword, piercing to the heart and soul, 

discerning the thoughts in intent of the heart.

His Word really will speak to you, where you are,

as you persistently sit before Him with a hungry

and humble heart. 

He has fed me, O has He fed me! And I have tasted and

seen that the Lord is good! 

This is the one challenge I have done the best at, 

and God has rebuked, corrected, challenged, 

and freed me in so many ways. 

And I know He will continue to! 

Psalm 119 is a beautiful passage that shows how David loved to

meditate on the Word and that he knew from experience

that God's ways were always the way of life, joy, and peace. 

"I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. I delight in Your statutes; I will not forget your Word."

"I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your Word"

"Help me to stay on the path of Your commands, 

for I take pleasure in it." 

"I will walk freely in an open place because I love Your precepts."

"Lord, the earth is filled with Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes."

"Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding so that I may learn Your commands." 

"Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."

"Since I love Your commands more than gold, even the purest gold, I carefully follow all Your precepts and hate every false way."

Jump in with both feet! Today! See how good it is to sit with

the One who loves you most and knows you fully!

If you need a little guide to start studying, I have been using the 

book The Good Portion by Heidi Baird. 

Make sure you write out your thoughts and/or prayers too. 

It helps to put things on paper.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; 

may His face shine on you and give you His peace.

🤍❤🤍

A Prayer to Psalm 139

O Lord you have search me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  Thank you, Father! You know my name and you care for me in a personal way. 

 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. Lord, you know all about me, even what I am going to say because you know my deepest thoughts. 

 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

You are here with me. I can hardly comprehend that You are so intimately close! 

 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Thank you that You follow me even when I am rebellious and trying to figure life out on my own. Thank You for disciplining me in Your love and for placing my feet on solid ground as I repent and submit to Your ways is everything. I know You will lead me on straight paths for You will be my Guide. 

  If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Lord, I pray that You will shine Your light on any sin in my life or the lives of my loved ones so that darkness will be defeated and chains broken. Thank you that if any of us feels the darkness of depression, anxiety, and fear we can know that Your light outshines all of this, even if we don't see it or feel it. For darkness is as light to You!

   For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body; All that you have made is good. I do praise you for you have not made a mistake. All of creation praises Your name. You use things that we sometimes call "defects" to bring glory to Your name as walk under Your strength. 

  ...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. 

Help me to always remember that You already know all of my days and the days of those I hold dear. This gives me great peace, Lord. You are always there. 

   If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 

They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 

Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 

I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Oh Lord, give me wisdom to navigate these uncertain times. Give me courage to stand up and speak up against the injustice, tyranny, lies and corruption that I see in our country. Keep my hearts' intent pure as I speak truth boldly in love. Thank you that You are the One who takes revenge and I am not. Help me Lord!

 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Yes Lord! I ask that You would search my heart and reveal and bring to light all that is not pleasing to You. Give me strength to confess these things so that together we can stand with each other in prayer as we fight against all that is not pleasing to You. Teach me Your ways O Lord and guide me in Your truth! ~ In Jesus name I pray