Our precious Pastor of 54 years was and continues to be a capable and very qualified counselor.  His wisdom to advise came from the Spirit of God and the Word of God.  One of his favorite portions of scripture that he would use often in counseling is the 37th Psalms.  I want to share with you my Dad’s thoughts and comments on the this powerful 37th chapter…

He would often say: “Here is the Key”, “Delight thyself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4).  It means that He will put into our heart the desire for the things that He wants you to have.  And remember…He wants you to have things that are best for you. “Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give tee the desire of thine heart.” I means to find your pleasure in Him. The heart that delights in the Lord finds its truest joy in Him.

If we delight (find our joy) in “things”…position or possessions, the results is frustration and unhappiness. “Delight in Him” means to find your joy in Him.  This brings happiness, peace and contentment. This is the cure for fretting (Psalm 37:1) “fret not”. To fret is to worry, to fume to fuss.

Delight in the Lord -This is the secret of trust (Psalm 37:3) “Trust in the Lord.” The farmer sows and cultivates , then he must trust God to sent the sunshine and the rain. What more can he do? I can trust completely in Him if I desire only what He wills.

Delight in the Lord - This is the result of surrender (Psalm 37:5) commit thy way unto the Lord and He shall bring it to pass. When I completely surrender myself to Him, then his will becomes my delight.

Delight in the Lord - This is the foundation of Peace (Psalm 37:7) “Rest in the Lord”. Rest means to hold still, to be quiet and content.

Delight in the Lord - This is the basis of being exonerated (Psalm 37:6) “and He shall bring forth thy righteousness.”  Sit still and He will clear your name.  We may be sure that if we look at His honor, He will see to ours.  Has someone misrepresented you, misused your name or falsely accused you?  Delight in your Saviour - “rest in Him, and He shall bring forth righteousness.”  There is usually not much use in our seeking to justify ourselves when falsely accused.  Someone has said, “your enemies will not believe your defense and your friends do not require it.”  The very effort lead to more anxiety, fretting and fussing.

Delight in the Lord - This is the cure for anger (Psalm 37:8) “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.” The psychologist tells us that anger is a defense mechanism usually based on the fact that we have taken. The best thing to do is to turn your position  and hour reputation over to Him.

Delight in the Lord - This is the key to patience (Psalm 37:7) “Wait patiently for Him.” Do not fret or fuss. He is able, just wait. Waiting is proof of faith.

Not only are we told to wait; but “Wait patiently.” Commit, rest, trust, delight, wait. This is the process of true Christian victory, to walk so close to Him, to be so yielded to Him, that He can whisper, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” You can be happy and content because your heart desires only His will for you.

Delight in His “favor”- Deut. 33:23
Delight in His “will”- Ephesians 6:6
Delight in His “service”- Isaiah 41:8
Delight in His “person”- Psalm 37:4

Delight in His “presence” - Psalm 37:25-26

CHRISTIAN LIVING

Whatever you think, both in joy and in woe, think nothing you would not want Jesus to know.