Dec 15 2021

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

We live in a pleasure-driven world. Every day on social media, we are bombarded with pictures and videos and gushing stories depicting a better life than what we currently have.

It can seem appealing to be in a fabulous relationship, have more money, and have nicer belongings. But as followers of Jesus, those things should never be our ultimate goal. We can find everything we need in life through our relationship with God.

When we are pulled toward "things", this should be an indication that our hearts are wandering toward our own desires and away from God's heart. This life and everything in it is temporary. God wants us to seek things that are eternal—like loving others, sharing the Gospel, and serving people the way Jesus did.

In this afternoon's Psalm, King David shows us the way to experience a fulfilled and happy life; to delight ourselves in the Lord. When we put our focus on God, we begin to desire what is pure and holy—like Him. Then, we no longer covet things that are outside of God's plan for us.

When we delight in what God loves, we are becoming more like Him and less like our human selves. It brings us joy to please Him and do what He wants.

Because we admire God and look to Him for everything, we should want what He wants. People admire celebrities, athletes, or personal mentors and often want to model their lifestyles after them. Their appearance and how they live can seem very appealing. But by turning our focus toward God and modeling our lives around what He says, we can find true pleasure—which the ways of this world can never really provide.In this afternoon's Psalm, King David shows us the way to experience a fulfilled and happy life; to delight ourselves in the Lord. When we put our focus on God, we begin to desire what is pure and holy—like Him. Then, we no longer covet things that are outside of God's plan for us.

When we delight in what God loves, we are becoming more like Him and less like our human selves. It brings us joy to please Him and do what He wants.

Because we admire God and look to Him for everything, we should want what He wants. People admire celebrities, athletes, or personal mentors and often want to model their lifestyles after them. Their appearance and how they live can seem very appealing. But by turning our focus toward God and modeling our lives around what He says, we can find true pleasure—which the ways of this world can never really provide.

Dear God, more than anything else, I desire what you want for my life. Sometimes I don't know what is best for me, and I get it wrong. Help me to focus on eternal things that will last forever, instead of temporary pleasures. My flesh longs for fleeting pleasures and these pleasures often pull me away from you. But you offer something so much better—your love. More than anything, I need your love to be present in my life. Please help me to follow you, above all else. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 14 2021

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? :

The word fear has sometimes been used as an acronym for "false evidence appearing real." Although many of our fears exist only in our minds, they can still play out in our lives. Fear can be crippling, and cause us to see a reality that doesn't exist.

Fear is a lie because it keeps us from seeing God's truth. Some of our greatest fears may have taken root in our hearts when we were very young. We might not even understand why they exist. When we confront the fears that are holding us captive, we expose their lies and take away their power. Fear can only have a place in our lives if we allow it to be there.

Fear is irrational. When it takes hold of us, something small can be magnified to the extent that it overwhelms us. We can choose to live in fear or allow God's grace and love to push it out of our lives.

Fear has a significant effect on us. We might be afraid to fail, so we never try. We might fear being rejected by others, so we keep people from getting to know us. Maybe it's the fear of letting others down, so we don't make commitments or promises.

We need to rest in God's peace and trust Him to meet us in the insecurities of our lives. When we listen to His voice, it can become louder than everything else that is happening around us.

Because God is with us, there is nothing in life we should fear—nothing.

Father, there have been times when I believed the fear in my life more than the truth that is in you. Today, I am wholeheartedly choosing to follow you instead of living in fear. I am turning every fear that I have ever experienced over to you. I refuse to allow the things that scare me to control me. I realize that I can miss out on what you have in store for me if I am held captive by my fears. Please help me to trust in you and take away the fear that is inside me. In Jesus' name, amen.
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