Psalm 37:4 (TPT) – “Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and he will give you what you desire the most.”
In this scripture verse there are three words that stand out to me the most, and from a first look are integrally connected. The words are delight, pleasure, and desire. So, I thought it may be a worthwhile pastime to ponder these (some selah moments) and take encouragement from them.
Delight (noun) is “a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture” and “something that gives great pleasure. Used as a verb with an object it is “to give great pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment to; please highly.” The verb used without an object means “to have great pleasure in or take pleasure in” something.
In context of this verse, it tells us that we can experience, both in taking and in giving, God with a high degree of pleasure and enjoyment. Just this explanation is enough encouragement to last us for a lifetime! However, the psalmist continues his claim that we can find true pleasure in God as well. I understand from his writing that the pleasure referred to is not some superficial, once-off or non-permanent experience, but rather that the opposite is implied!
The English dictionary defines pleasure as “enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking; gratification.” Used as a verb it refers to taking or receiving enjoyment, satisfaction or gratification from a person or place. Referring to the writing of the psalmist, again we see that God can absolutely gratify us, and that we can find total gratification in our relationship with Him.
It is in this atmosphere of a mutually delightful experience that God’s overwhelming giving nature ‘takes control’ and expresses itself in Him granting us the desire of our heart. Desire is simply a dep longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment. Paul reminds us so eloquently that it is God that reveals those divine desires to us!
Philippians 3:12-16 (TPT) – “I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.
So, wherever you find yourself in life, make today the moment of deciding to take delight in the Lord, and to find your true pleasure in His presence to fully experience His abundance in every area of your life!
[CREDIT Photo by Allen Taylor on Unsplash] / READ MORE articles by Waldo Malan]