Delight
The joy of the Lord is your strength!
Nehemiah 8:10 NLT
I recently saw the funniest response to a baby tasting marinara sauce for the first time. When the stronger flavor of a marinara sauce was added to the baby’s simple palate of food, she did not like it at all! Her face told the whole story as she frowned and tried to rub the taste from her mouth with her hand. Yet, she kept tasting it over and over, perhaps expecting a different result. Each time she responded the same way and soon everyone watching was giggling at her consistent response.
Just like first responses to the taste of new foods can vary, so can the response of hearing the word of God for the first time. When first hearing God’s word, some people are filled with excitement, others are moved to tears and yet others sadly… reject it, turn and walk away from God.
At the time of Nehemiah, this was the people of Israel’s response to hearing the word of God after a long time of not hearing it…
And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’ (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT).
The people were moved to tears and had to be encouraged by their leaders to be joyous and celebrate at the reading of God’s word. The leaders had to explain this day of reading God’s word was a good thing and to be joyous and celebrate!
Hearing the Good News of Jesus is a moment I celebrated when I really understood the gift I had been given. The gift of receiving a real relationship with God Almighty is truly a joyous moment to celebrate!
When I accepted God’s free gift of salvation, I also received the gift of joining the Lord’s kingdom. It is a kingdom of joy, celebration, and faith!
These verses also reveal the response the Lord desires in me…
Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4 NLT) and delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:2 NLT).
The attitude of my heart, as I approach the Lord in faith as part of His kingdom, is to be joyful. I am to take delight in the Lord and in His Word and ask for His joy to bring me strength!
I pray, as you search your heart, you find this attitude, too!
Father, in the quiet of my heart, You speak to me… whispering, “Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart!” Lord, help me delight in You, Your Word, Your way and Your people. Thank You for desiring to fill me with joy, strength and delight! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Stacy A. Davis
