Recall when you were dating and how you’d talk to your boyfriend/girlfriend on the phone late into the night. (Back when texting wasn’t available)

Did you do it because it was your duty as her boyfriend to do so? Did you want to get off but she would drag it on? Or did you buy her gifts because you’d be in trouble if you didn’t? Did you take her to fancy restaurants so that you could eat well? No, of course not. If you did, then you were never in love. You did it because you delighted in her. You did it because you wanted to do it. It made you happy to be with her and to make her happy.

God wants us to delight in Him the same way.

Christianity is not a set of demands, will-power, or a resolution. If all Christianity has been for you is just following some moral rules, written or unwritten, set by the church leaders or resolving to live a better life, then you have missed the whole thing. Christianity for you is a religion and not a relationship. And that’s what God hates! Imagine if your bf/gf/spouse was with you out of obligation, but couldn’t wait to be apart from you and do his own thing!

– Do you eagerly wait for Sundays so you can worship God? or you just put up with it because that’s what a Christian is expected to do?
– The Bible – Boring or treasure? Be honest. Does reading about Jesus delight you or is it just same ole, same ole?
– Praying. The same memorized prayer over and over? Or vital, earnest, and joyful? (Imagine if your girlfriend repeated the same memorized words to you every time you got together…)

If you delight in God, I praise God for you! I hope it becomes infectious. But if you do not delight in God, repent! And ask God to open your eyes and hearts so that you will delight in Him.

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night!” Ps 92:1,2 (This doesn’t sound like He was forced to praise God to me. It sounds like He actually delighted in doing so!)

PH