When I was a kid we had no cell phones, no internet, and no video games. Personal computers hadn’t been invented. We had four TV channels, if you included the educational channel. A few shows were in color including, Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, which aired on Sunday nights. So, we spent a lot of time playing outside.
At the bottom of my road, my good friends Larry and Lee lived next to each other. On Saturday mornings, I might watch a few cartoons, but I much preferred being with my buds. As soon as possible, I’d hop on my bike and coast down the hill to their houses to hang out.
One Saturday morning, in my excitement, I arrived earlier than usual. Seeing no activity at either house, I parked my bike and waited on a short stone wall in between their two houses. I don’t remember who showed up first, but I do recall my delight when one of them emerged from their house. These were my good buddies and we had so much fun together riding our bikes to the community pool, fishing in the creek or playing whatever sport was in season.
I enjoyed being with my friends and I read that God delights to be with me even more than I wanted to be with Lee and Larry.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me (Psalm 18:18-19 NASB).
This is quite hard to believe, and I don’t always feel as if it’s true. Yet, if I lived the moments of my day in the splendor of this reality, my life would be wonderfully different.
But how?
First, I must realize the facts concerning God’s love for me, then I must act upon the truths or count them as so.
Realize and Recon, the two step of walking in God’s delight.
REALIZE
Realize – to become aware of something as a fact, understand fully
There are many verses in the Bible about how very much God loves his children.
Following is just a few to personalize in a conversation with God:
- Before the world was formed, You chose to love me and to adopt me as Your child [1]
- You’ve loved me with an everlasting love, a love which is unaffected by any of my thoughts, how I feel or even my choices [2]
- You’re familiar with all my ways, You weaved me together in my mother’s womb, Your thoughts toward me are beyond number [3]
- Your love for me surpasses understanding. Even the breadth, width, length and height of the ocean and the sky above doesn’t adequately portray how delighted You are in me [4]
- Even when I was against You, dead in my sinful ways and lost with no hope, You gave Your very life so that we could be together forever [5]
- You rejoice and shout for joy when You’re with me [6]
Pause a moment and relook at these truths. Take note of any which your mind pushes away as not true. Perhaps there’s a lie you’re believing which repels the truth.
Spend awhile in prayer disagreeing with the lie, recognizing that God’s word is far more reliable than historically faulty thinking.
RECKON
Reckon – rely on something to be sure.
In verse 11 of Romans chapter 6, Paul tells us to reckon ourselves dead to sin. Other translations say “consider”. The idea is to personally count as a fact something that is true. As certain as a bank statement is reconciled, and there is no “maybe” about it. It’s either reconciled or not. What God says is true. We’re to reckon it so.
For example, I read God delights to be with me, that I cause Him to be joyful. Though this seems unbelievable, His word says it’s true, so I reckon it so.
From what we realized above, we rely on to be true:
- Before I was even born, God chose to love me
- God adopted me to be His child
- God loves me with a love which can’t change, even when I sin
- God knows everything about me, yet still loves me
- God uniquely fashioned me in my mother’s womb
- God thinks about me all the time
- God loves me with a quality of love which doesn’t fit in my mind. His love is beyond measuring. It surpasses knowledge and doesn’t fit in my mind
- God loves me with a love which is greater than my disposition toward Him. Even when I was against Him, Christ gave His life for me.
- God loves me so much; I bring Him joy.
Practice the Rhythm
Pick one amazing truth about God’s love for you a day and do the two-step.
Realize it – lodge it in your mind
Recon it – consider it true no matter what rises in opposition
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand. (Psalm 73:23 NASB)
Remember, as you walk, He’s taken hold of your hand.
Prayer
Lord, knowing your love changes everything. Please reveal your great delight in me now and always. Help me travel in your delight. By Your mighty divine power, destroy every speculation and lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of Your love for me. Fill my heart with fresh awareness of your delight in me in every step I take. In Jesus’ name I pray.
[1] Ephesians 1:4-5
[2] Jeremiah 31:3
[3] Psalm 139
[4] Ephesians 3:17-19
[5] Ephesians 2:4-5
[6] Zephaniah 3:17
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Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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