Delight Yourself

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. –Psalm 37:4 ESV

Was there a time in your life when you were absolutely delighted with something? Perhaps, as a child, it was the time you received a Christmas gift that you’d wanted all year long. The definition of delight is to appreciate, relish, enjoy, or savor. You, as a child, were delighted with the gift, and the person who gave you that gift received just as much joy (if not more) watching your reaction to it. Psalm 37:4 (ESV) tells us, “Delight yourself in the Lord.” But, how do we do that? When our hearts find true peace and fulfillment in Him, when our understanding of our worth comes from the Lord, and not from what we have accomplished, we’ll find “the joy of the Lord” (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV). The world’s approach to delight places the focus on material goods: “What’s in it for me?” But the Christ-like perspective of delight puts all the focus on God. Moreover, it’s not a mindset assuming that if I follow God, I’ll get everything I want. Rather, it is a mindset that desires more of God’s presence, as we appreciate, relish, enjoy, and savor the freedom from sin and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Our Father loves seeing the joy of His children as we delight in Him.