Discipline is not necessarily a fun part of life. Doing things in a particular way at a particular time may not be exciting or may not feel like there is any freedom.

I am one that tends to follow the rules and the process and does things on time and adherence. Where that may seem boring, it is in fact more stable and I find that I am able to move on to other things more quickly as a result. You see, having discipline to do things right saves time as I do not have to go back and do them again. I am able to move to the next item on the list and know that the first item is behind me. That is freedom. I have the chance to simply not be concerned with what has happened and can focus on those things are going to happen. Without discipline, I find that the list of things needing to be done never really gets any shorter as I am constantly working to “fix” what did not get done right the first time.

I have a responsibility to work on getting things right, and with God, it is even more important than in other areas. I have to remember to do that which God gives for me to accomplish and know that I have served Him first and can now move on to the next. This brings joy to my father in heaven, glory to His name, and He delights in me.

“¹²for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” — Proverbs 3:12 (ESV)

I notice in the first part of verse 12 above, that God disciplines those He loves. A lot of that is attributed to the correcting of wrong in society. There seems to be this negativity that comes with discipline as opposed to the way I described in the first part of this morning’s writing. No one likes to be disciplined, even when reading the second part of the verse that indicates the delight God has in me. What is missing is the lack of discipline that leads to discipline.

“¹¹My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,” — Proverbs 3:11 (ESV)

It starts with discipline as noted in the first part of verse 11 above. I have to remember that the discipline to do right comes before anything else. I have to not necessary like doing things the right way or in the right time, I simply have to accept them and know that there is a purpose behind them. Once I have accepted, I will then know that the consequences are mine to bear as I chose to adhere or not. And when not, the consequences will not be as pleasant as I expect.

God delights in me and my obedience. He does not want to punish me for not doing right, but I put myself in those positions by not adhering to the discipline He has provided for me to indeed do right.

What discipline are you avoiding and then being disciplined? Are you running in the attempt to get away with not doing right and being disciplined? What if you embraced the idea that God delights in you and provides discipline to you so that you can avoid disciplinary consequences?

I am grateful that I have the LORD who I can rely on and trust. I may have times when I misstep and stumble a bit, God will make sure that I do not fall completely.

“²³The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; ²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.” — Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV)

I have a protector and guide that will not allow me to fail completely. I know what some may think, If God guides and protects you so much, why would He allow you to fail at all. Well, I have free will to do what I feel is right and just. And with that free will, I may not always do that which is really right and just, only that which society sees as right and just. Examples: getting revenge on someone that wronged me may be seen as right and just in society, attacking someone for the views they have may seem right and just in society, and the always popular one of that if it is not physically harming someone, what is wrong with it. All of these may be seen as right and just in society, but they are not exactly demonstrating the spirit of God.

I have to remember that what society believes to be one thing, may not be what is right and just in the eyes and heart of God. I am to answer to the higher authority for what is right and just and that higher authority is God. I must be in line with Him.

When I am in line with God, He guides my path and makes sure that I have firm footing throughout the journey. I will stumble from time to time. Even on the smoothest of paths I will stub my toe. Think about those times when we have joked of someone tripping on the blade of grass or the line on the sidewalk. No path will be traveled without some tripping and stumbling. It is a stumble and not a complete fall to the point of not being able to get up and recover.

I will fall down. I will trip on the path. I will stub my toe. The thing is those are momentary and not forever. God provides the path where He has added guide rails and places to lean on as we go. I will have the tools necessary to get back up and keep moving forward. I will be granted the chance to move to the next task and bring glory to God. He will not forsake me and will keep my upright when I follow Him.

What path are you walking on? Are you taking the path of society without a safety net? What if you followed God fully and took the path He provides that has the hand rail?

“⁷How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. ⁸They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.” — Psalm 36:7-8 (ESV)

Notice that which God allows for me to have part, His love, His protective wings, His house, and His delights. What a list and frankly a list of the best that God has, and He gives it to me. I am so grateful that God has this for me.

I am a sinner and certainly not worthy of receiving anything except the fruits of my sin. I should encounter death at all that I have committed against God and anyone else. I am not worth that which I am given. I have really done nothing to deserve the love and safety and care that God has for me as I have and will continue to fail Him each and every day.

Yet, God sees to it that I have the best that He has to offer. I don’t just get loved, I get His steadfast love. I don’t just get safety, I get safety in His shadow. I don’t just get enough, I get an abundance from His house. I don’t just get a drink, I get drink from the best of His. I am a sinner and God gives to me as His son and not just to survive, His gives from the best and would consider no less for me.

“⁹For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” — Psalm 36:9 (ESV)

My failures do not stop God from providing the best to me and as seen in verse nine above, I get the life and light. I receive the light of life from God in my life, despite that which I have done to push it away. My sin, where a barrier in most situations, with God and my repentance, I have the best from Him.

What things in life are you receiving? Are you getting what you deserve, or something else? What would you imagine to receive with your repentance and reliance on God, the best He has?

I have a duty to delight in the LORD. I have to have His love and compassion and comfort and words in my heart. I have to let that seep out of me so that all can see.

“²⁷Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant!’” — Psalm 35:27 (ESV)

I have to remember that even when not “saying” anything, I am still preaching the gospel to all those who are watching. I have to ensure that what they see in my is that of delight in the LORD. I have to make it clear more in my actions than in my words, for words are empty. I have to be there for all to see and see that I am here to do the work of the LORD and not the work of man. I have to be sure that everyone knows that I am here for the LORD.

It is easy to be the full follower of Christ when in a place where there are others seen delighting in the LORD as then the collective is presumed to be of God and for God. When I am alone and on my own, in the presence of non-believers, I have to be more conscious of those watching and make sure that they are able to see the delight in the LORD I have. I have to be all in for Him in public and private. And when I am, my actions will allow my words to be heard.

“²⁸Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.” — Psalm 35:28 (ESV)

My duty is to bring the word of God to the people and that is more possible when the people trust that my actions are true. Others have to see the delight in my work and then they will be able to hear the delight in my words.

What are others seeing in you? Are your actions speaking to the delight you have in the LORD? What if you were to focus on delighting in the LORD and allowing your actions to lead into your words for others to delight?

There is a lot of influence that comes from society and those that surround us. I know that I will look on with curiosity when I come into a group, to see if there is something that I can learn and/or take away that I maybe should be more aware. I have to be careful that I am not walking into or engaged with a trapping of something that will pull me away from God due to my weakness and desire to “look good” in front of others.

This morning I was brought to Psalm 22 and where this passage is related to the question of why would God forsake me, I have to read and take more away than just the title of the passage. I again have to read to understand and not just collect information.

“⁶But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. ⁷All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; ⁸’He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!’” — Psalm 22:6-8 (ESV)

The above verses address the idea and reality of being chastised and “mocked” as a follower of Christ. Society is mean and cruel and a thorn in the side of those that adhere to the teaching of God and continue to follow Him even when there appears to be no reward for the devotion. It is easy to fall into the crowd with the mindset that I will better fit in and be accepted when I lend to the leanings of society. But, it is the steadfastness to remain with God and following him that generates the true reward as is noted in the rest of the Psalm and continues in Psalm 23 that follows.

Verse 8 above, where it is meant to be a sarcastic comment and garner some self-doubt and dig into the follower of Christ, it should also be a mantra or a rally cry for the Christ follower. Knowing that God will deliver and rescue me should be that which gives me hope. I should be fully trusting in the LORD and I should be delighting in Him at every step I take. I will be rewarded and those that mock, in order to have the same, will need to do the same once they have reconciled their sinful ways and follow Christ.

I must delight in the LORD always, and not just in times when I am alone with Him. I must carry Him with me at all times and not waver and be influenced by the cruelty of society. I will be with Him and He with me as I travel through this world on way to my final heavenly home.

What in society is getting in the way of your delighting in the LORD? Are you allowing yourself to be influenced by those around you to the point that you are turning away from God to be accepted? What if you were to delight in the LORD always and putting aside the influences of those around you as your ultimate reward is in your final heavenly home?

Living in the world and seeing that which is going on is so telling. I see constantly what appears to be the quest to abolish the law. Why is that? Why is it that people would want to abolish those things that are in place to allow for direction, not to mention, safety and security. Well I maintain that is to take away accountability and responsibility.

When there is no knowing of what is right or wrong, then whatever is done is just considered done and there is nothing else that comes from it. There is no thing as morality. There is no thing as safety. There is no thing as security. There is no thing as direction. There is nothing, there is only action, and no reason for reaction or understanding. All is seen as okay and therefore anything goes.

I would ask simple questions as what is the way to manage electrical performance. What is the way to create a road. What does it matter if I take what you have. What does it matter if I just break all the windows in a building. What does it matter if I allow for any and everything goes.

I believe that most would say the previous paragraph does not matter as long as it does not impact the ME. Everyone is okay with something as long as it is not happening to them. And that is where the law comes in. I do not know what is or isn’t unless I am told and then it is up to me to decide how it impacts me and whether or not I should be concerned. Sin is not, unless it is pointed out as sin. Until I know that something is wrong, it is not wrong. When it happens to me, then it becomes wrong whether I am told it to be or not. When I do it to someone else it is not a sin on my end, because I do not know, even when the other is impacted negatively.

The law of God identifies sin for all. All are held to the same. All are following or breaking the law. And there is THE item that causes the most challenge with those that are not followers of Christ and His law. They are now aware, and everyone is aware of the rules and laws and are held to the same standard.

As a Christian, I may not like that some things that appear to be harmless are deemed sins in the eyes of God. I may not see the harm in some of those things in the grand scheme of things. I do, however, see that having those lines define what is right and wrong in the eyes, hearts, and physical of others than me. I have to think of others and make sure that they are not negatively impacted for things that I undertake.

“²²For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,” — Romans 7:22 (ESV)

As I said, I may not like the law and sin, but I am now aware and I take that seriously and as Paul notes above to delight in my inner being. I do not have to address the world’s sin, only my own and I have to know that I have every opportunity to overcome that sin, but I am human and will continue to sin as a result. I have to come to grips with it and know that sin is a product of knowing and knowing leads to understanding and understanding something leads to dealing with that something.

“²⁵Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” — Romans 7:25 (ESV)

Paul sums up the passage with a declaration of thanks that God has provided the law so that He can know sin, understand sin, and deal with it. He does not take away the idea that knowing will remove sin, only that know and delighting in the law will help him deal with it.

What do you have in your life that you may not know, understand, and deal with? Are you looking at things with the mindset that it does not really matter for it does not impact you? What if you were to delight in the law of God to know and understand the sin that is occurring and you are then able to deal with?

“¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” — Jeremiah 15:16 (ESV)

I am continuing to study the word “delight” and this morning was brought to the above verse. I have to remember that just the verse does not tell all, I have to not take the verse out of context. And with that in mind, the words of Jeremiah here are those that I should be living out each day. The idea that God’s words are that which can and will give delight and joy is certainly encouraging.

I have to remember and want to remind of the context of the passage. Jeremiah is complaining that it appears God has left them (Judea) and he is just working to draw God back. But in the midst of his complaining, Jeremiah is also declaring his love and devotion to God. Jeremiah is reminding God that even as Judea had drifted away, he remained, and with that in mind, he is asking God to remember and show some favor and compassion.

I want to focus on the verse above and know that God’s words are those that will bring life. Not necessarily life in the sense of breathing and heart beating, but life to the soul. I have life that is sustaining beyond the physical and for that I will delight and have full joy. That joy and delight give me hope that all will be well despite other experiences.

I am to make God’s words the delight of my heart so that I am able to experience the joy that comes with them. I have life and that life is given to me from God and His words that take up living in my heart. I have them there and I should be using them to bring me the energy to continue on, even when what is seen is hopelessness and despair. I have God’s words in my heart and that is where the joy and delight live to get me through.

What is in your heart? Are you accepting God’s words in your heart? What if you did and allowed His words to provide the hope that all will be well?

I am encouraged by those that openly stand for God. Whether in the spotlight for all to see or in their small corner of the world, those that stand for God are to be revered and should be counted as great. There are a good number of those that do stand for God and they are fighting the battles that God places in front of them.

The thing I believe I enjoy seeing from others following Christ is their seemingly unwavering to do so and they seem to enjoy the difficulty they are facing as they know the work is for God and only by following Him can they achieve what He has for them.

“³³Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.” — Psalm 119:33-35 (ESV)

This morning I am thinking of Kirk Cameron. I do not know him personally and really only know that which I see. What I will say is that he is delighting in doing God’s work. He grew up in the spotlight acting in television and movies. And now, he is still involved, however he is living a higher purpose serving God. It is not easy and I have to believe that his continued success is provided by God as Kirk does his work. But it is more than that.

Kirk seems to be enjoying life and truly delighting in taking on everything that God has for him, regardless of where it seems to lead him. He appears to be allowing God to lead him and Kirk is following obediently.

I want to say again, I do not know Kirk Cameron and will not claim that he is the perfect example of what right looks like. What I will say is that what I see gives me courage to delight in the work that God has for me. If someone can do God’s work with delight, in front of the world and still be standing, I can surely do the same.

I have to remember that God has work for me to do. He does not promise that the work will be easy, or will render me wealthy, or will provide the kind of lifestyle I believe I deserve. I am called to do His work and delight in it for that is right.

When you are doing work, what is the status of your heart? Are you doing the work to reach an end goal? What if you were to delight in the work, and allow God to provide the riches He has for you?

Our giving is measured by our heart and not by our wallet. God wants that our hearts be right for He to delight in our giving.

“¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. ¹⁶For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” — Psalm 51:15-17 (ESV)

In the above verses I see that I can have all of the good movement and be giving continuously to those that are in need and I can be building up God all the way and providing offerings to Him, yet if/when my heart is not right, there is not delight. God does not take delight in those things that are not from our heart. I have to get right with God and do things as a show of my relationship with Him, regardless of the magnitude of the giving. God wants only from our heart and to give all we can from there.

“¹Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, ²and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ³And he said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’” — Luke 21:1-4 (ESV)

In the above verses, I see that this woman gave all she had for the good of the LORD and not for everyone to see. She was not making a spectacle, she was simply giving from her heart and Jesus recognized it and called it out as being great. There was no correlation of a large amount to being greater, it was about what was in her heart that made the gift such and impact with Jesus.

God only wants from us that which will bring delight to Him. He works to build me up and provide for me and it is my duty to give back to Him and bring that delight to His face.

“¹⁸Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; ¹⁹then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.” — Psalm 51:18-19 (ESV)

What is your motivation for giving to God? Are you looking to bring delight to His face? What if you were to allow Him to build you up and then you give back to Him from the heart and look only to bring delight to Him through your obedience?

This morning I was led to a verse and passage I have studied many times. I say many times as I have a number of notes in the margin of my bible. I will say that none of the notes are directly related to “delight”, the word I am studying at this time. There are notes related to the depth on repentance, inward truth, and imprinting on your heart, but really nothing related to delighting.

“⁶Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” — Psalm 51:6 (ESV)

As I read through this verse and the passage, I see that David is declaring to the LORD to delight in that which is a part of him. I also see the idea that I am to be delighting in the truth of the LORD and as noted in the margins of my bible, imprint that truth on my heart and really get to the depth of repentance. But I have to focus first on delighting in the truth.

God sees in me what is there that I may not know is there myself. I have to study and get to the depth of my relationship with Him. That depth will lead to my seeing and knowing the truth that is the LORD. I will know Him and in knowing Him I will be able to delight in who and what He is and means to me and the world.

Delight is defined in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary as such: Noun – a high degree of gratification or pleasure, something that gives great pleasure. Verb – to take great pleasure, to give keen enjoyment. Synonyms of delight – joy, pleasure, treat, exult, jubilate…

The above definitions and synonyms are just some although they really fit into that which I have studied this morning. I have to take “joy” in the LORD and His truth. I have to experience the “pleasure” that comes with His truth. I should be exulting His truth. I am in charge of giving “keen enjoyment” to others that are around me with His truth.

All of this related to delighting in truth is about action and that is what I really have to remember. The Lord’s truth is there for me to take action on and not just keep to myself. I should be allowing others to experience His truth through what the witness and experience with me. I am to be carrying the light of the LORD everywhere I go and delight in His truth and allow others to do the same.

What does your relationship look like with the LORD? Are you delighting in His truth? What if you did and allowed others to see and experience His truth in and from you?