Delight thyself also in the Lord

"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desire of thine heart."
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."
                                  Psalm 37:4,5
Everyone wants to be successful, make the right choices that lead to "fulfillment" and be prosperous.  Our generation is well supplied with "How To" books and "Self Help" seminars guaranteed to enable you to realize all of your greatest desires.

Those things may be helpful but to find true happiness there is nothing that can compare with the injunctions of the two verses of Scripture above.  Someone said that the greatest hindrances to finding true and lasting happiness are three; (1) People regard self too highly; (2) People regard sin too lightly; (3) People regard God not at all. That is a recipe for failure and disaster not success and happiness.

According to the Scripture above, the first step to true happiness is the "commitment part."  Without the commitment we are not even in the program.  Once we are completely committed then our desires and delights are synchronized with God's plan and provisions and we are content.

Paul maintians that full commitment is entirely reasonable.  "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of (all) the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies  -  presenting all your members and faculties  -  as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God,which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship."  (Romans 12:1 Amp. N.T.)

It is a choice between the temporary and the permanent. Those who take delight in what God disapproves will find their pleasures short-lived.  Moses understood this and made the good choice for it is written that "By faith Moses....Choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" (Hebrews 11:25).

The Psalmist wrote,"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)   It is a choice of  "for a season" or "for evermore".

The afflictions for the cause of Christ are temporary and the pleasures are eternal.  The devil's promised pleasures are very temporary and the resuting misery is permanent.  The world advertises its pleasures but don't believe everything you hear and read.  The bill will arrive later.  Someone once said, "The morning after takes the joy out of the night before."

A commitment to God will result in true pleasure in this life, even with the afflictions, and there will be no regrets.
   (Pastor Bill Cummins,  drbc@bresnan.net)