Father and son take a walk down the road in front of their farm. The father has long been a nature enthusiast, especially interested in trees. He studies the tall oaks bordering the road that his grandfather planted long ago.
He knows that oak trees are among the longest-living organisms on the planet, that large specimens can consume up to one hundred gallons of water per day, and drop 10,000 acorns in a good year.
The father delights in those stalwart oaks; his desire is to keep them strong. More than once he’s called an arborist for advice on their care.
The son, on the other hand, watches the cars and trucks go by. He guesses every make as it comes into view, and he’s usually right. As far as the boy’s concerned, each one is a work of art.
He especially hopes a sports car will pass, so he can enjoy the rev of its large engine. And the whole while he’s dreaming of the day he will sit behind the wheel of a car or truck, wind whipping at his hair as he follows the road to his destiny.
Dad hardly sees the cars; the son barely notices the trees.
What a person delights in captures his attention and impacts his desires.
King David asserted that truth long ago, but in matters of the spiritual dimension rather than physical.
“Take delight in the Lord,” David wrote, “and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
David was not referring to desires for possessions, like sports cars or even healthy trees. That interpretation doesn’t fit the context of the rest of the psalm.
David stresses that we’re to:
- Trust in God (vs. 3, 5)
- Delight in him (v. 4)
- Commit our way to the Lord (v. 5)
- Be still before him (v. 7)
- Wait patiently for him (v. 7)
Those are the signposts of spiritual maturity: 1) to trust God even through the storms of life, 2) to delight in all that God is and all that God does no matter our circumstances, 3) to submit ourselves to his all-wise ways, 4) to remain calm and restful in his care, and 5) wait patiently for him to act.
As we become proficient in each of these areas (and it is a growing process), we often find our desires changing. Over time God molds his desires in our hearts—desires that provide true fulfillment, contentment, and peace.
However, we can accelerate the growing process and augment our delight in God.
Consider how the father and son grew in their delight of trees and cars. They learned. Each had made a study of their favorite subject. The father knew trees; the son knew cars.
We can increase our delight in God by:
- Pursuing gratitude as an avenue of delight in him
- Becoming a sleuth among everyday events, tracing the evidence of his love, wisdom, and power
- Celebrating his blessings
- Soaking in the Word of God, discovering his attributes and involvement in the lives of humankind
- Practicing his presence throughout the day–acknowledging him, talking to him, and listening
“If we will let our hearts be filled with God till it runs over with delight,
then the Lord Himself will take care that we shall not want for any good things…
We may have disappointments; but if these bring us nearer to the Lord,
they are things to be prized exceedingly,
for they will in the end secure to us the fulfillment of all our right desires.”
–Charles Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook
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That is my prayer, Heavenly Father, to be filled with the delight of YOU, sensitive to the perfect desires you have for me. Then I will know fullness of joy.
There are many ways to take joy in God. What fills your heart with the delight of him? Please share in the comment section below!
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From the Inside Out 