My Daily Delight

The year was 1988. Jan and I had finished language study, transferred to Roxas City, ready to begin our missionary career. Settling into our little apartment and ready to win 7 million Ilonggos to the Lord, I needed divine direction. Jan allowed me to leave for 3 days, check into a small hotel room, and pray. With water, my Bible, a few books, and an eager heart to hear God speak, I pleaded with the Lord to reveal His mighty plan on how He wanted to use me to build His kingdom in this part of the world.

The Lord’s humble servant prayed and waited. In the middle of the 3rd day, God spoke: “Mark, before you can be ready to build My kingdom, you need to do a better job building your family. How can you expect to show my grace to others when you don’t show it to Jan. You need to say these words to her… You need to help her in these areas… You will be ready to share my love with others when you are first sharing it generously with Jan.” End of message.

After receiving this impression, my first thought was, “Whoa, where did THAT come from? Is this what I get for fasting 3 days?” I thought I was doing pretty good as a husband. Of course, Jan might have had a different opinion. Obviously, God did.

My point in sharing this is that there are times when it is plainly (sometimes painfully) obvious that God is speaking. Such thoughts would certainly not have come from me. In the Parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus says, “The sheep hear the Shepherd’s voice… and they follow Him, because they know His voice.”

Honestly, most of the time I’m not sure if I’m hearing God’s voice or my own thoughts. But there are other times when I have no doubt that God is speaking. He will use pointed words that clearly show me areas in which I need to change. Other times, He will use loving and intimate words that make my heart melt because I know I don’t deserve them.

Fanny Crosby, blind from birth, understood what it meant to have a relationship with God. “All the way my Savior leads me; What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy, Who thru life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by faith in him to dwell! For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

Last week, I asked my team to list words that described a close relationship. They listed: loving, communication, giving, trust, common interests. I then asked them if these words described their relationship with God? We have said many times that Christianity is not about a religion, but a relationship. Yet for many believers, the only relationship (if it can be called that) they have with God is one of a benefactor, or a business partner in which they expect reciprocity in exchange for their devotion. Is this what Jesus died on the cross for?

As we remember the cross and celebrate Christ’s resurrection, know that Jesus desires a relationship with you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends… I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” (John 15).

I am still learning to experience God, not only as a generous provider, but as my source of fulfilling joy; not merely as the object of my worship, but as the center of my daily delight. “O God, thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water… Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise Thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live… When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches. For Thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy!” (Ps.63).