Do yourself a favor–read Psalm 37 this week.  Slowly and deliberately, like molasses in January.  You won’t be sorry.  Verses 3 and 4 put icing on the cake–‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.’

Verse 4 puzzles me.  About myself.  That business of God giving me blessings.  My heart’s desires.  Sometimes I wonder if I’m only on God’s team for the goodies.  What I can wangle out of Him.  Twist His arm.  Somehow trick the Almighty.  Like that old beastly book entitled, ‘Prayer–How to Get Things From God’.  Yuck!

On better days, I want to delight in the Lord.  Love Him for being who He is.  Like I do with our grandchildren.  We have the best.  Love them whole bunches.  Yours too, if you have them.  If not, you delight in your spouse.  Friends and family.  Work.  Hobbies.  Sports teams.  Whatever and whoever.  You know–Delight!

A big question comes to mind.  How can I delight in God?  How?  Any ideas?  Probably similar to other delights.  With our grandkids, it’s being with them.   Hanging out, enjoying whatever they want to do.

One example is playing board games.  Fun, competitive tribe we have!  It’s a delight to see the joy on their faces, especially when Silly Papa pretends to shed big crocodile tears over being the biggest loser!  Delight!

Another is proudly displaying their pictures wherever there’s room.  And cherishing anything, and I mean anything, that they make for me, putting them all around my office.  I can barely squeeze in myself!  Delight!

This week think about delighting in the Lord.  As in what gives Him pleasure.  Ideas?  Can’t be too difficult.  If I can think of a bunch, so can you.  Delight!

By the way, never forget what a delight you are to Him!  Zephaniah 3:17–‘The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you…’  And Isaiah 62: 4–‘…but you shall be called My Delight…’  See?

Happy, Healthy, Delightful New Year!

Thank you, Jesus, for you.  Amen.