Donald Wickham’s Blog

Delight, what in the world is it?  As I think on that word, I realize that it isn’t a word that I associate with my life.  And, to be honest, other than seeing the word in the Bible, I don’t really give it any thought.  But I’m beginning to realize that I should be, and not just thinking about it but living it.

The other morning, I heard a squeal of delight from my wife as she answered the door and there stood our son and his family whom we hadn’t seen in a year or more.  And, while they visited over a few days, I heard other expressions of delight, mostly from the very young children and mostly during play.

I was reading this morning in “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” and the author talked about delight.   As I’ve pondered this word and the living out of it, the verse in Psalm 37:4 came to mind which says “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”   Clearly there is something very important that I (and might I suggest, we) have been missing.

So much of my Christian walk has been “doing” oriented: worshipping, studying, serving, praying, etc.  All good things but rarely taking time to just rest and delight in our Father and His love.  There is something twisted when my focus is on being about the Father’s business instead of just being.

So, how to change?  To live more in joy and delight than duty and obligation?  And, how to avoid turning this “delight” into a thing!   For me, the first step is simply asking Father, how would He like me to delight in Him.  Then, to stop.  Yes, just stop.  And listen.  I sense a big smile from Him.  That this learning to delight, and yes, it will be a learning or relearning process, is a doorway into a new, exciting and fun season with God.

Tags:   Delight · duty · Father · Father's business · joy · listen · obligation · Psalm 34No Comments