Seeking Pleasant Surprises
Wednesday, July 22
Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Devotion
Seek a memory—a moment when a brief yet profound feeling of satisfaction occurred, perhaps even extreme pleasure, or the happiness of giving someone a gift that brought them great joy. Stay in that memory for a moment.
Now, allow yourself to delight in that memory, experiencing a profound feeling of pleasure, joy, and satisfaction. This is delighting.
In Psalm 37, we are reminded to delight in the Lord—our Way Maker, who walks daily with us. When we choose to delight in the Lord—our Father, our Savior, El Shaddai (God Almighty), and El Elyon (God Most High)—the promise that follows is rooted in His will and immense love: He gives us the desires of our hearts.
When God, the Almighty One, becomes our ultimate desire, our wishes naturally align with His will for our lives, and He promises to grant what is best for us. Why seek anything else when we are free to seek the very best for our future?
Become greatly pleased with the inheritance we have in Christ Jesus, who faithfully delivers pleasant surprises—moments where experiences exceed our expectations. We all have bad days and face difficult challenges in life, but when we delight in His faithfulness to fulfill the desires of our hearts, we can trust that He never ceases nor changes His loving actions toward us when we seek and delight in Him.
He delivers joy—a sudden sense of wonder and weightlessness—when we delight in Him. Seek these pleasant surprises by first seeking God, and know that, as we seek Him, our heart’s desires will begin to reflect His character, rooted deeply beyond our human ability to fully comprehend. In Him, we find true joy and inner peace.
Let our faith be active. Let us treasure the present moments and align our desires with a higher purpose by delighting in Him.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Seek pleasant surprises in the Spirit of God, both in the wonderful moments and in the tragedies, and we will never be disappointed. God is faithful all the time.
Today's Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We seek Your throne and delight in Your majestic, overwhelming love for us. Help us to walk as Psalm 37:4 children, honoring You and delighting in You in all of our circumstances. Thank You for making our paths straight. We rest in knowing that in You, through You, and with You alongside us, we will align ourselves with the greatest gifts and pleasant surprises that only You can deliver. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
Hope is a powerful force. Hope in God is a divine expectancy that "He is good, and His mercy endures forever." If there is any area in your life where you need to trust Him more, delight yourself in Him there. Not only will He place His desires in you and give you hope, but He will also fulfill them.
Resources
- Delighting in the Lord begins with knowing His heart. Take a few moments to watch “I Love My Master” and discover the joy, freedom, and fulfillment found in wholehearted devotion to Him.
- Meditate on Matthew 6:33 and make it your anchor verse this week as you delight in seeking the Lord first.