When I was a kid we had no cell phones, no internet, and no video games. Personal computers had not been invented. We had four TV channels, if you included the educational channel. A few shows were in color including, Disney\u2019s Wonderful World of Color, which aired on Sunday nights. So, we spent a lot of time playing outside.<\/p>\n
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\u2019d hop on my bike and coast down the hill to their houses to hang out. We\u2019d play basketball, baseball or football, fish in the creek or ride our bikes to the community pool to swim.<\/p>\n
I remember, in my excitement, arriving too early one Saturday morning. I saw no activity in either house, so I parked my bike and sat on a bank in between their two houses and waited to play with them. I don\u2019t remember who showed up first, but when one of them came out of their house, I was so happy to see them. These were my good buddies. We had so much fun together.<\/p>\n
Does God delight to be with me this way? Is He eager for us to be together? I read that He is, but I have a hard time grasping it.<\/p>\n
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the\u00a0Lord\u00a0was my stay. He brought me forth also into a broad place;\u00a0He rescued me, because He\u00a0delighted\u00a0in me\u00a0<\/em>(Psalm 18:18-19 NASB).<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Since we\u2019re talking about walking in God\u2019s delight for us, what\u2019s a two-step rhythm we can develop as we walk?<\/p>\n There are many verses in the Bible about how very much God loves his children.<\/p>\n Following are just a few to personalize:<\/p>\n Pause a moment and relook at these truths. Before we go on, take note of any which your mind pushes away as not true. Perhaps there’s a lie you’ve believed which repels the truth.<\/p>\n Spend awhile in prayer disagreeing with the lie, recognizing that God’s word is far more reliable than faulty thinking.<\/p>\n 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<\/em> count as a fact something that is true. As certain as a bank statement is reconciled, and there is no \u201cmaybe\u201d about it. It\u2019s either reconciled or not. What God says is absolutely true. We’re to reckon it so.<\/p>\n For example, I read God delights to be with me, that I<\/em> cause Him to be joyful. Though this seems unbelievable, His word says it’s true, so I reckon it so.<\/p>\n We reckon the following as so:<\/p>\n Pick one amazing truth about God’s love for you a day and do the two-step.<\/p>\n Realize it<\/strong> – lodge it in your mind<\/p>\n Recon it –<\/strong> consider it true no matter what rises up in opposition<\/p>\n Nevertheless\u00a0I am continually with You;<\/span><\/em> All along, as you take each step, remember His nearness. As you walk, He’s taken hold of your hand.<\/p>\n Lord, knowing your love changes everything. 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\u2019 name I pray. \u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n [1] Ephesians 1:4-5<\/p>\n [2] Jeremiah 31:3<\/p>\n [3] Psalm 139<\/p>\n [4] Ephesians 3:17-19<\/p>\n [5] Ephesians 2:4-5<\/p>\n [6] Zephaniah 3:17<\/p>\n Previous posts in our Discipleship Rhythms Series:<\/span><\/p>\n God\u2019s Amazing Love<\/a><\/p>\n God\u2019s Essential Love<\/a><\/p>\n What Hides God\u2019s Love<\/a><\/p>\n Christ Lives in Me<\/a><\/p>\n Raised up with Christ<\/a><\/p>\n Who\u2019s your Treasure?<\/a><\/p>\n Obtaining the Joy of Jesus<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Orienting Life from Above<\/a><\/p>\n When Things Get Hard<\/a><\/p>\n Communing with God<\/a><\/p>\n Receiving God\u2019s Love to Give it Away<\/a><\/p>\n Love First <\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Joy of Putting Others First<\/a><\/p>\n Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/p>\n What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\nWhat are the steps?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
REALIZE<\/h4>\n
Realize<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 to become aware of something as a fact, understand fully<\/h4>\n
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RECKON<\/h4>\n
Reckon<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 rely on something to be sure.<\/h4>\n
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Practice the Rhythm<\/strong><\/h3>\n
You have taken hold of my right hand. (Psalm 73:23<\/strong> NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nPrayer<\/strong><\/h3>\n