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Reasons for Rejoicing

by | Jun 14, 2022

I am currently reading a book by Dutch Sheets called “The Pleasure of His Company – A Journey to Intimate Friendship with God”. One of the ideas that Dutch presents over and over, is how much God desires a close, personal relationship with human beings. He longs for us to know His true nature, essence, and character, and has given Christ-followers the gift of Holy Spirit who reveals God primarily through His Word as recorded in scripture. In Zephaniah 3:17 God reveals exactly how He feels about us: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” It only seems right and fair to me, that if God expresses His great love for us by passionate singing, rejoices in our salvation and restored relationship, and delights in our company, then we need to reciprocate. Psalm 37 indicates some ways to do this: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; delight yourself in the Lord; commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him; be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him; and don’t fret over evil people and their wicked ways.” 

The counsel of the psalmist to “Delight yourself in the Lord” comes with a promise “and He will give you the desires of your heart.” What does it mean to “Delight yourself in the Lord”? It means that I enjoy my relationship with God, I look forward to being in His presence, I take pleasure in His company, and I love Him because of who He is and not just what He can do for me. Yes, He is the source of all good things (James 1:17, John 3:27), but more importantly He is my Father and relates to me first and foremost as His beloved child. With this realization, I began to think about my relationship with my earthly father and recall the things I most appreciated about him. I REJOICE in my relationship with God and DELIGHT in in the Lord because of:

  • Your interest in everything about me
  • Your availability
  • Your undivided attention when we are together
  • Your wisdom
  • Your generosity and abundant provision 
  • Your grace – undeserved goodwill and unmerited favor
  • Your perfect and unconditional love
  • Your miracles and unlimited power
  • Your care, consideration, concern, and compassion
  • Your delight in Your creation
  • Your superlative creativity and artistic nature 
  • Your forgiveness of sin 
  • Your timely help, assistance, and aid
  • Your faithfulness and commitment
  • Your lack of favoritism
  • Your relentless pursuit of the lost and unsaved
  • Your gift of Holy Spirit as Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, and Teacher 
  • Your gifts of salvation, eternal life, and transfigured physical body
  • Your honesty leading me into all Truth
  • Your inspired Word as recorded in the Bible
  • Your willingness and ability to heal any disease or affliction
  • Your protection from evil
  • Your strength in my weakness
  • Your enjoyment of our relationship and your affection for me
  • Your work of sanctification so I become more and more like Jesus
  • Your unselfish consideration of others 
  • Your great goodness
  • Your passion for restoration
  • Your response to prayer
  • Your work freeing me from the past, destroying enemy strongholds, and tearing down barriers to our relationship
  • Your desire to be known and loved
  • Your great and precious promises
  • Your justice – accountability for wrongdoing and punishment for evil doers 
  • Your kindness, gentleness, and mercy
  • Your patient, peaceful, and humble nature
  • Your constant and unchanging character
  • Your gift of free will
  • Your love of order and organization, peace and harmony, beauty and perfection

I found that creating and meditating on this list is an excellent way to repel the fiery darts of doubt, disbelief, anxiety and fear the enemy likes to shoot at our hearts and minds. Being reminded of the goodness and greatness of God is a very effective “shield of faith” as well as a powerful “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:16-17) in our ongoing battle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present Darkness, against the of “spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly places (Ephesians 16:12). I invite you to utilize my list of “Reasons for Rejoicing” or compile one of your own. No matter what situation or circumstances we find ourselves in, we can always rejoice in the goodness of God. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances’ for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

 

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