such a delight...

"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." --Psalms 37:4 NASB

This has always been my favorite verse. I used to sign it below my name when I signed a card or letter. I love this verse, but I must be honest I've held onto it with selfish motives. I had a tendency to focus on the desires of my heart and not consider the rest. I thought if I went to church and behaved like a good girl then I was "delighting in Him." Because I considered myself such a delight He would then grant my desires like Santa Clause at Christmas time. "Yes God, I've been a good girl this year so I would like a new Porshe Carrera in black, a beautiful home with a view, at least ten new pairs of shoes (preferably designer), and oh yeah...Tim Tebow. Thanks."

It doesn't work quite like that. Believe me, I've tried. The question that needs to be raised is what delights Him? It isn't  the mere behavior modification, it is a total overhaul of the mind. God desires you to put Him first. Not kinda first, but first and foremost, above all else. When you do that then His desires become your desires and that causes Him delight. All the sudden the Porshe isn't so shiny and attractive. It's diminished in comparison to bringing God delight. (Tim Tebow still looks just as good though, ha. Just kidding!) You will never be happier, more fulfilled than when you are in the center of God's will and focused on delighting in the Lord.

boombox

I've had a song stuck in my head for the last three or four days. Maybe this sounds familiar to you...

My heart's a stereo

It beats for you so listen close 

Hear my thoughts in every note. Oh-oh-oh!

Make me your radio

Turn me up when you feel low 

This melody was meant for you, so sing a long to my stereo. Oh-oh-oh!

For those who know this song, I know you are now singing it in your head with me. It's catchy. So yesterday as I was singing it for the nine hundredth time, I started thinking about a spiritual application for all of this. Shay laughed when I told her this, but hear me out. God wants a relationship with us, it is like He is singing this love song to me and telling me that it was meant for me. Another part of the song says...

If I was an old-school fifty pound boombox
Would you hold me on your shoulder, wherever you walk
Would you turn my volume up in front of the cops
And crank it higher every time they told you to stop

So let's get rid of the stereo/boombox metaphor. God is saying I have a message of love, do you hear it? Do you share it? Too often I find myself searching. Searching for love. And I ignore what is right in front of me. The next chapter in my ultimate love story is waiting to be written. It is my relationship with Christ, that should constantly be moving and growing. I have settled with having an acquaintance with Him instead of the passionate love He has designed me for.

It is time to not just love God, but to fall in love with Him deeply. To not just say I have a relationship with Him, but to actually have one. Time to give up my search and surrender to all that He has to offer, which is SO much more than I would ever find anyways. His melody was meant for me, but not just for me. He wants me to share it with you and for you to share it with others. Don't be selfish, share the love. Turn up the boombox.  

Just for fun...Here's the video...