GOD DELIGHTS IN YOU
One warm summer morning I was picking cucumbers in our garden. My granddaughter Olive, who was two at the time, joined me. She wanted to “help,” so as I pulled each cuke off the vine, I handed it to her and she ran to the tub at the end of the row and dropped it in. She giggled with glee as she returned to me after each “journey.” I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I watched her.
Which do you suppose would have been easier? For me to work alone, tossing them into the tub myself, or handing each individual cucumber to Olive, and then wait for her? If you’ve ever worked with small children, I don’t even need to ask. But which delighted me more? Again, I think you know the answer. The joy of my “partnership” with Olive was worth every extra moment of time. Did I need her help? Of course not. But I wanted it. Just think of the joy I would have missed.
Witnessing how Olive assisted me brought to mind our partnership with God. Our Father invites us to join Him in His work of redeeming humankind. (II Corinthians 5:18-20). What an amazing thought! We are God’s partners. Ever wonder why God would choose to work through us? Does He need our help? Of course not. But just as I wanted Olive’s assistance, the Lord delights when we partner with Him. Why? For the same reason I desired Olive’s “help.” We bring Him great delight.
Psalm 149:4 informs us, “the LORD takes delight in his people.” Isaiah 62:4 promises, “the Lord will take delight in you.” Zephaniah 3:17 offers this assurance, “He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
I’m confident that our Father, who possesses perfect love, takes far more delight in me than I ever could in my granddaughter. During these trying times, let’s allow this thought to fill our hearts as we drift off to sleep. Let this idea overwhelm us when we feel rejected by others. Be amazed by this truth when we doubt how deeply God loves us: I am a partner with the Creator of the universe, and He takes great delight in me!
Principle: The Lord takes great delight in me.
Promise: “He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Ponder:
In what situations do I most need to remember that God delights in me?
How does the knowledge of this amazing truth transform my life?
Prayer: Almighty God, even in your sovereignty, you choose to take delight in me and invite me into a partnership with you. Thank you for this amazing privilege.
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Zephaniah 3:9-20.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.