Psalm 43:4
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.
Several weeks ago we had the privilege of having our 2 year old granddaughter in church with us. Her family was visiting and we had the distinct pleasure of being together again in the church that our daughter and son in law grew up.
I was holding her in my arms as we worshipped and I happened to look down at her adorable little face. She was looking at the band, at all of the people in the congregation and all of her surroundings. Her face had the sweetest, serene, awe struck smile. Her eyes were filled with wonder and when she caught my eyes, she lit up brighter still. It pierced through to my heart that she was taking in and enjoying every aspect of what was going on around her.
Later, as we went out to lunch, I got her out of her car seat. It was a cold, windy day and as I was carrying her, again, I looked down at her and her little eyes were wide, her smile splashed across her face as the wind whipped her hair around and she took in all the people and cars milling about. As the wind continued to whip and pick leaves and other debris up in a whirlwind, a cry of laughter escaped her lips. Just pure, unadulterated joy permeated from her little body. And again, as she caught my eye, she smiled brighter still and hugged her little body into mine in for a tight embrace.
I have thought about this so much over the last couple of weeks. I have wondered what it would it be like to live in that state of joy and delight. I covet that and I find myself yearning to seek and see God in all things ~ all around me and be caught up in delight, pure wonder!
As adults, we get bogged down ~ in jobs, messy relationships, devastating life circumstances, fear, the daily grind. But I keep asking myself, what if we strove to live above those things? What if we took God at His word and trusted Him like my grandchildren trust their parents, my husband and I when we have them in our arms. What if we took delight in the beautiful gifts that surround us and that God has given us to enjoy?
Are we that joy filled with all the beautiful things that God has given to us? Do we delight in Him and the beauty all around us. God delights in us and He wants us to delight in Him.
God could have made His world black and white and we would never would have known the difference. But He gave us sight. He gave us color. The smell of the ocean, mountains, sunrises, sunsets, snow, and wind. He gave us the sweet fragrance of the earth after a soaking spring rain. He gave us all of these things because He is a good Father. Because He loves us, because He wants us to feel His presence all around us at all times!
As you are looking for Him in your daily lives? I would love to hear the places that you find your delight and joy in Him. Where does He show Himself most to you? Where are you “stopped in your tracks” because of your awe of Him.
I pray that you find those sweet spots with Him more and more in your daily lives as you intentionally seek Him; like the delight of a two year old child!