At Your Pleasure

“Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad
    and say evermore,
‘Great is the Lord,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!'”

“His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.”

“Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.” Psalm 35:27; 147:10-11; 149:2-4

“So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

“And God blessed them… And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:26-28,31

“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.” Zephaniah 3:17

The Bible shows many facets of God’s character as He interacts with man, the crown of His creation. And from the beginning, fashioning what He had designed in His mind from eternity past, He took delighted pleasure in His creation of man after His image. His every interaction is compelled by love. His created world was designed for man’s sustaining, fulfillment, and joy, their form, minds, and senses made for work and awe and pleasure. Providing, disciplining, directing, chastising, protecting, and judging, the Lord in infinite love delights in His children. (Hebrews 12:6)

Are we aware of the Lord God’s affection for us? Do we go about our days oblivious to His love, His care, His pleasure in how He’s crafted us to exercise gifts, be productive, contribute to His kingdom purposes, care for His world? Staying consumed with personal agendas and selfish wants and doing precludes us from taking part in His grand delight.

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” ~John Piper (1946-)

When we comprehend that God takes joy in us, we will savor and glorify Him. Reveling in the Lord and the life He imparts, with all its beauties and richness, fulfills us and honors Him.

“This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!” ~Maltbie Babcock (1901)

Lord, help me live in Your joy, at Your pleasure.