“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. But this is not true of the wicked. They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”
This morning, as I am sitting here reading this chapter I’m reminded that even though I have read this before numerous times, I can get something different out of this every time. God’s Word is Alive! Even though it’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, it is relevant to me now in any situation!
The verse that jumps out at me today is: “But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about His law.” Wow. Do I really delight in doing everything God wants, day and night? Do I take the time each morning to ask God “what are we doing today? what do you want to happen today?” I find myself saying no. I’m not a morning person, and if you known me long enough you would happily agree to that. I’m not that cheerful in the mornings, I hate to get up early, I would rather sleep till about 9 or so. I’m a night owl. I work better at night, I write at night, I can focus better. Anyone else like that? I suppose I could write this blog at night, but I feel like I’m supposed to do this in the morning. Why God why can’t it be a night? =D
And even though I have to get up early I find myself groaning, “what do I have to do today?” My mind runs over everything and everyone that is wanting my time and what errands I have to do, or what my mile long “to-do list” says. And the more that I sit here writing this, I’m cringing just a little more to have to admit all of this: I’m not asking what God wants to do every morning. Now I do pray each day throughout the day and yes I’m thinking about God. But am I delighting in what God wants to do?
In Hebrew delight means “desire, delight, pleasure.” So not only do we delight in God will, but do we desire it? Do I want what God wants no matter what, is it a deep burning desire in me? Jacob preached a few months ago on God’s will, and how God’s will is the best will for our lives. No matter what I think I should do, God’s will is going to better, it’s going to be the best plan for us. If I’m not living out God’s will for my life, I’m not going to be the happiest, the most blessed.
After Jacob and I got married, we were faced with a decision. We were not financially making it, and we just started going to New Life Worship Center and feeling the call to Youth Ministry. We were on the verge of moving. Jacob wanted to do underwater welding, and we were seriously considering moving so he could do that and go to school. We were days from packing and taking that step when God told us no. He wanted us to stay here and be the Youth Pastors at New Life. We were faced then with the decision, do we go ahead and move where Jacob could make more money and we would be set, or do we stay and listen to God? We stayed. Was it an easy decision? No. Was is hard? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely! We have been blessed beyond measure listening to God. He has taken care us all the way. We wouldn’t have been happy elsewhere. Could we have found another church, another youth group to lead, probably so. But we wouldn’t have been happy. We wouldn’t have been blessed the way we have been now. Because we wouldn’t have been in God’s perfect will. It hasn’t been easy, we have had to lean on God more than anyone, anything. But that’s what God wants more than anything. He wants us to lean on Him, to let Him take care of us. He wants us to desire, to delight in Him.
I hope this has blessed you today. I know that it has me, and I know that I have to make more of an effort to delight in God’s will. After Daniel goes to school and it’s still early, even though I’m still groggy and cranky, I’m going to do my devotional and write this blog. I’m going to ask God, what are we doing today? And hopefully, after a while, I may be even become cheerful and happy early in the mornings! (we can hope right?)
Hugs,
Erin
Leave a Reply