Delight in the Word

 Delight in the Word

“Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, LORD God of Armies.” Jeremiah 15:16

At what point did my appetite change? I have always had a love for God’s Word. Even before understanding the power of it I would compete as a kid in bible drill. I would compete with other kids memorizing scripture or trying to find a bible verse in a competition.  I am thankful when I look back at those seeds that were planted. It would be many years later when I understood that God’s word was made so that I could understand His ways and it was to protect me. To guard my thoughts. The Living God gives us the gift of His word so we can understand the heart of God and His love for us. The enemy would go through any lengths to get us to believe that our way is better but when we get that Living Word in us it can change us to become more like Jesus. I want to know God. Not just knowledge about Him but to know Him. The more I know His heart the more I can understand the joy and delight of living for Jesus. Sitting with Him asking Him to reveal what He means through the written word. 

I can delight in His Word or delight in the world. I’ve tasted both. That word eat in the verse above brings to mind consume and to feed myself. With MS my diet has changed over time. I have noticed foods that cause inflammation in my body can make symptoms more noticeable. I started realizing this even before I was diagnosed and was adjusting my diet. Foods that I had consumed before regularly were wearing me down and making me feel bad. So I decided to get more disciplined with food and I wasn’t diagnosed till five more years down the road. Also during that time I was learning to take verses and put them on a notecard. Bible verses that told me not to fear that would accompany everywhere I went. That Living Word started to plant deeply within my heart.  And when that diagnosis came I had a choice. I was either going to believe my brain and fear or I was going to believe in the faithfulness of God and how He has never left me.  It wasn’t something I recognized right away and the fear was my first thoughts until I remembered. I was on my way to meet some women weeks after my diagnosis.  I told the Lord, “The brain Lord that is really scary.” I remember that one thought, “Why would the Lord leave me now in this diagnosis if He didn’t leave me back then when I turned my back on Him?” And next was  my heart responding in remembrance “He controls everything why do I not believe He can control my brain?” And that was a turning point for me when I recognized the power of transformation. Having a mind of Christ is an ongoing process of taking my understanding and learning to become more like Jesus every single day. Day in and day out. 

We can give Him our thoughts. Tell Him yours. 

He invites us to do this.  The enemy wants us to hold on to things and let that thought just linger. What does lingering produce? For me it becomes this overwhelming feeling that leads to more feelings. I can stop the enemy in his tracks when I begin observing my thoughts. When I hear a negative loop of negative lies, insecurity and unworthiness that isn’t a voice from God. Taking those thoughts captive and replacing them with who He is.  Father, you are Good. Peace. Holy. Just. Authority of what I am thinking and feeling. God wants to hear us speak to Him. He delights just hearing our voice. “Father I am feeling anxious about this next step but Lord you tell me you will never leave my side.” “I trust in you and don’t want to depend on my understanding to help me to seek your direction.” He will show you. Ask Him. 

Father,

It is our responsibility to seek you alone. To desire you above all else doesn’t come naturally. A mind soaked in your truth brings us delight that the world can’t bring us. Help us to sit and just be with you.  That is what you desire. To know us more than anything else. Prayer is about resting in your goodness and faithfulness. Prayer is the way we can delight in you Lord. We trust you for the things we cannot see. We get to take refuge in you alone. Let that be a reminder to run to you when we fear. “I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I want to know you and believe that you will guide the way you desire for me to go.” Thank you Jesus that your ways are good, right, and true. 

Amen