September 9 | Psalm 37:3-7

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Psalm 37:3-7

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REFLECTION

Take Delight in the LORD

By Beth Voltmann

I was 39 the year I lost my mom. She was just a few days shy of her 72^nd birthday. A routine heart surgery designed to improve life took an unexpected turn. My sister, brother, and I flew out to encourage Dad and to stand vigil for two difficult days while machines kept Mom’s heart beating - her lungs breathing. On the day she passed, my father scribbled “Black Friday” on his daily-page calendar.

 “Why Lord, why?” As anyone who has lost a family member knows, the grief is deep. It crashes over you - takes your breath - wakes you in the night - fogs your brain – and leaves you feeling helpless and hopeless.

The sorrow was overwhelming in that season, yet I barely had time to grieve. In the midst of the loss, I was raising four kids plus a puppy with my husband and was only into the first month of my new job at our church. I still remember attending a staff meeting shortly after returning from my mother’s funeral. As we turned to a portion of Psalm 37, this question was posed: “What does it mean to take delight in the LORD ?”

Take delight in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

(v.4)

As the group reflected, my thoughts turned to our new puppy. At the end of each long and tearful day, I would look forward to cuddling and playing with her for a while. As I did, my burdens would lighten. I delighted in her - she delighted in me – and my heart began to heal.

(My puppy)

There seems to be a close tie between “delight” and “desire” as revealed by these two translations of Psalm 40:8a:

“I delight to do your will, O my God...” (ESV)

“I desire to do your will, my God...” (NIV)

When we delight in the LORD then our heart’s desire becomes to do His will.

God’s Word not only tells us to delight in Him, but that He delights in us.

Isn’t that truly what our hearts desire – to be the “apple of His eye”? 

            “He will take great delight in you...” (Zephaniah 3:17b)

                        “The LORD delights in those who fear him...” (Psalm 147:11a)

How like our loving Father to use a little puppy to give me understanding of His Word! God healed and changed my heart in that season. No matter what the new day brings, I will choose to delight in Him as He delights in me.

As you consider what you are facing in life, ask yourself this question:

What does it mean to “take delight in the LORD”?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you that Your Word is alive and active,

always teaching,

always instructing,

always renewing our hearts.

What joy it brings to delight in You!

Amen

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BETH VOLTMANN

After moving to Ohio in 1997 with my husband and four children, I developed a hunger for God’s Word through adult teaching and women’s Bible study at UALC. My passion is to help others understand Scripture so that they may grow in their desire for more of God and experience the new life offered to us through Christ Jesus.