DELIGHT is Life “In-de-Light”

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD"  (Psalm 1:2a).

Joy, excitement, pleasure, amusement—all of these words are synonyms
for delight. So many parts of our lives delight us; our spouses, our children,
our jobs, our possessions and accomplishments; the list could go on.

When you think of the things that delight you, do you name “the law of the LORD” as
one of them?

The Bible says “the law of the LORD” is many things. It is just, it is true, it is right, and more.

The law of the LORD illuminates situations, and the law of the LORD is sweeter than all that we know as sweet. The law of the LORD provides not only correction, but it also gives protection.
The law of the LORD brings an uncommon wisdom, that which is beyond natural years. The law of the LORD shows you how to live, how to avoid evil, and how to overcome your enemies.

When you consider all that it is, you can understand why the Bible declares that delighting in the law of the LORD is something in which the blessed man engages? Are you living life “in de Light” of God’s Word?

Peace-A Weapon Against Satan

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me." - Psalm 23:4a KJV

In the battles of the workplace, your peace is actually a weapon. The workplace creates many opportunities to rob us of our peace. Cash flow concerns, deadlines, relationships - all create stress on us. Your confidence in the God of peace declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, he did not confront Satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any voice other than God's. His peace overwhelmed Satan; His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.

There is a place of walking with God where you simply fear no evil. David faced a lion, a bear, and a giant. In this Psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he "feared no evil." David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "...for Thou art with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God! David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Ps. 23:5a). The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually. Only God's peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. If fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face that fear with God's peace. It is God's secret weapon to destroy fear.

One-Day Thinking

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34, NIV).

For the next six months I’m going to ___________.

For the next quarter I promise to ____________________.

This year I commit myself to _______________.
 

Tell me, does this sound familiar? John Maxwell has an inspiring card that he reads each day called, “Just for Today.” It is quite moving and it expresses tremendous goals, but each goal is prefaced by, “Just for today.”

Brilliant. I call it “one-day thinking,” and it is after all, scriptural!

“One day at a time…” is what we sing in the old hymn, but we try to live two months at a time. We worry, we fret, and we sicken ourselves over something that that might happen tomorrow.

To that I offer this response: Plan for tomorrow but live in today. Look at your goal today, be your best today, and keep your promises today. (When tomorrow becomes today—then REPEAT!)

One day thinking offers a simplified life achieving complicated goals. (We don’t have to ask, “What would Jesus do?” We already know that “one-day thinking” is what He told us to do!)

 

Lonely Days

I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.  John 15:15-The Message

Lonely days are no fun. We all have them. Whether married, single, or divorced, you will have some lonely days. But it seems that some people have more lonely days than others. It seems that those with higher callings on their lives are usually people that struggle with loneliness. It's almost like God sets you apart or calls you out of unfruitful past friendships and relationships, and then keeps you alone to himself for a short period to work things out of you. Many of us were so dependent on a man or woman in our lives that we totally ignored God and couldn't connect with him like we needed to for our callings sake. So what did God do? Take everyone away from us for a season, so we can be with him alone. But where does the loneliness come from?

Loneliness usually comes when you have developed a need for others. I know many will agree with this, because when you have spent your life living for others, depending on people to validate you, chasing friends and friendships, always needing people around to make you feel wanted or needed, then when you are suddenly alone, you feel very lonely. But if you suffer with any of these issues, loneliness is what you need! Not forever, but at least for a season. You see, Jesus wants to be that friend you are searching for. Don't you know that God put a need for himself in your life? Your purpose lies in him, so you must know him to know YOU! Your reason for being lies in him, so you must know him to know why you are you! And when you spend your life chasing friends or using people to find yourself, all you end up doing is having a bunch of one sided relationships, or failed relationships because you are searching for answers in the wrong places. And loneliness becomes a plague to you even though being alone can be an asset. Jesus said in the Word that he is your friend and he will not leave you comfortless. Read John chapter 14 and 15 and you will see that his concern is you. He wants you to be his friend and find yourself in him! So the next time you are feeling lonely or all alone, rejoice because he is working the false friendships and relationships out of you and working on his relationship with you.

Suggested Reading - John 14, 15, 16

Forgiveness Ensures Freedom

"See to it that no one misses the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." - Hebrews
12:15

In business and life the opportunity to harbor bitterness for a wrong
suffered is great. We are given plenty of opportunities to grow bitter from
relationships that bring hurt and pain. The writer of the Hebrews passage above
admonishes us not to miss the grace of God so that we won't take up bitterness
as a response to life's pain. He cautions us against this because he knows that
a bitter root grows and grows until it eventually defiles many others through a
wake of bitterness. If bitterness is allowed to take root, we become imprisoned
to it. God's grace will no longer have as great an effect in our lives. We
become ineffective, insensitive, and spiritually dead. We can even become
physically ill from it. God does not live in bitterness. He lives in grace. He
has provided grace for every person to walk in.

One day I was challenged to
deal with an individual who hurt me terribly. I was faced with a decision. Would
I choose bitterness, or would I choose grace? Oh, how my natural tendency was to
choose bitterness. But God provided the courage to choose grace. With that grace
came freedom - a freedom to love and even accept the person who was the source
of such pain.

This is the real place where Christ's power is most revealed.
We cannot live without His supernatural grace. Are you in need of grace today?
It is there for the receiving. It will take courage to accept it and walk in it.
This will be your step to freedom