Understanding more<\/em> of the \u201cWhat\u201d Question \u2013 \u201cEmbracing \u2018What\u2019 God Delights In\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding Who<\/em><\/a> God is leads to knowing what<\/em> He desires of me<\/a>, but also what He delights in<\/em>. Right knowledge leads to right living<\/strong>. With the privilege of knowing <\/em>God comes the responsibility of obeying<\/em> God. A proper understanding of Who God is should lead us to ask the contrary <\/em>question to the natural <\/em>question: we naturally ask \u201cWhy me?<\/a>\u201d while God desires us to ask the question, \u201cWhy not me?\u201d\u2014ultimately, \u201cWhat are you seeking to teach me?\u201d A right understanding of God\u2019s purpose leads us to see our ministry through<\/em> the trial and continues<\/em> after the trial\u2019s conclusion. This truth should encourage us to embrace the trial even more. We are to \u201ccomfort <\/em>[others]<\/em> which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God<\/strong><\/em>\u201d (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s desire is that we would live a life according to our\ndesign of bringing Him glory (1 Corinthians 10:31; Revelation 4:11). As we seek\nto understand the what<\/em> question, we\nseek to embrace the ministry of the trial as we embrace what God desires. Now\nlet us consider the what <\/em>question\nfurther and seek to embrace what God delights in by embracing God\u2019s leading us\nin His way<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked back through what I had journaled during those first days, back in July of 2017. In my devotions I was reminded of Psalm 37 which blossomed into a time of great encouragement and hopefulness, rich with meaningful purpose. It was like a road map was laid out before me, showing me the pathway through this temptation rich battlefield of the mind. This became clear as I read that<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe<\/em> steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord<\/strong>: and He<\/strong> delighteth in his way.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Psalm 37:23<\/p>\n\n\n\n David tells us that the Lord \u201cdelights<\/em>\u201d in the way of the \u201cgood man.<\/em>\u201d I knew that I wanted the Lord to delight in the way that I would take through this trial, but how? How could I be someone whom my God delights in, especially as I anticipate the unknown twists and turns of this path that is before me? The more I studied this passage the more the Lord began to peel back the layers unfolding the powerful and transforming truths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near the end of the chapter David writes, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace<\/em>.\u201d\u2014 Psalm 37:37<\/p>\n\n\n\n What jumps out to me here is that \u201cthe end<\/em>\u201d or outcome \u201cof that man<\/em>\u201d\u2014the \u201cperfect<\/em>\u201d and \u201cupright man<\/em>\u201d\u2014\u201cis peace<\/em>.\u201d This catches my attention because this was exactly what I needed. I needed peace\u2014God\u2019s kind of transcendent peace\u2014the kind that doesn\u2019t make sense given the circumstance (Philippians 4:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I see that I am\ncommanded to \u201cmark the perfect man<\/em>\u201d\nand I am also to \u201cbehold the upright<\/em>.\u201d\nThese words, \u201cmark<\/em>\u201d and \u201cbehold,<\/em>\u201d carry the idea seeing such\nvalue that we pay close attention so as to learn from them and follow their\nexample. I believe the \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d\nfrom verse 23 is the same as the \u201cperfect\nand upright man<\/em>.\u201d The Lord \u201corders<\/em>\u201d\nor makes his steps firm because he is submissive to the Lord\u2019s leading. The \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d is marked by humility and\ndependency in obedience to the commands of God\u2019s Word. This is the \u201cway<\/em>\u201d of peace that God \u201cdelights in<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us consider the commands of Psalm 37 starting with the first. Psalm 37 begins with a negative command\u2014don\u2019t do this! David writes, \u201cFret not thyself\u2026<\/em>\u201d (verse 1). This word \u201cfret<\/em>\u201d carries the ides of getting consumed with anxiety and anger over something that we have little or no control over. The reality is that a trial gives us plenty of things to \u201cfret<\/em>\u201d over. The \u201cwhat if\u201d monster seems to peak around every corner tempting us to doubt God\u2019s goodness, love and leading. We can begin to fret about an endless number of things that can draw us away from God instead of drawing us into greater dependence upon Him through His Word\u2014His stabilizing truths. This fretful way<\/em> is the way of inner turmoil and conflict, instability and fear. It is NOT the way that God delights in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So\nhow then do we obey this command and keep from \u201cfretting<\/em>\u201d? Encouraging ourselves to \u201cnot fret<\/em>\u201d is an effort in\nfutility<\/em> for it keeps reminding us what we are not supposed to be doing\nwhile we are trying not to do it. I find that my mind gets stuck in painfully\ncontorted positions as I perform all different kinds of mental gymnastics\u2014it is\na vicious cycle that has a snowball effect which only makes my situation worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nbeauty of God\u2019s Word is that when we find a negative\ncommand<\/em> we often find positive commands and promises to help us obey the\nnegative ones. So how do we learn to \u201cfret\nnot<\/em>\u201d? Read on in the chapter and find the positive commands\u2014the \u201cdo this\u201d\ncommands. Pay attention to the \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d\nand see what he is marked by so as to learn from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d of Psalm 37 is submissive to the Lord\u2019s leading by being obedient to His commands. He\nis a good steward of God\u2019s leading. Here in Psalm 37 we see five specific marks\nof the \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d who is a good\nsteward of God\u2019s leading. What I find fascinating is how each one builds upon\nthe other similar to the process of building a house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first<\/em> mark of a \u201cgood man<\/em>\u201d is found in verse 3 where we see his STABILITY. This first positive command is to \u201cTRUST in the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d In the building process we must begin with a solid foundation. This word, \u201ctrust,<\/em>\u201d speaks of a deep abiding reliance. Trusting<\/em> is calmly confiding in Him. It is being at peace, knowing the Biblical revelation of God. These truths will stabilize the soul. This command is rooted in the character of God\u2014knowing Who He is. The truths of God are foundational to a life that God delights in. As I consider the pathway of this trial, I can be sure<\/em> that His way is trustworthy, and it will help quiet my soul only when I know<\/em> Who He is. I must learn more about God in order to trust Him so as to be led by Him. <\/strong>The \u201cgood man\u2019s<\/em>\u201d way is marked by a mind that is stabilized<\/em> in the Lord because he knows that he can trust Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second<\/em>\nmark is found in verse 4 where we see his satisfaction. This command is to \u201cDELIGHT thyself in the Lord<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d Our\ntrusting God\u2014being stabilized<\/em> in\nHim\u2014leads to being satisfied<\/em> in Him. Often this\nverse is used to explain the means by which we get what we want from God. This\nis not the way to get your hands upon God\u2019s provision<\/em>, but instead how\nyou get your heart where God\u2019s purpose<\/em> is. <\/strong>When\nI know that God\u2019s way is motivated by His unconditional love for me, desiring\nmy best for His glory, I can find my satisfaction<\/em> in Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This satisfaction<\/em> comes from saturation<\/em>\u2014being saturated with God\u2019s Word as my mind is renewed in Christ. This process changes our desires, bringing them in line with God\u2019s desires. A right attitude transforms our delight in trials.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCount it all joy when ye fall into [various trials] knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience<\/em>.\u201d\u2014James 1:2-3<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rejoice in Him and His righteous<\/em> and loving<\/em> way. Rejoice knowing that this is the good way\u2014that God will use this to \u201cwork all things together for good<\/em>\u201d to conform me into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:28-29). The \u201cgood man\u2019s<\/em>\u201d way is marked by a heart that is satisfied<\/em> in the Lord because he is saturated<\/em> with His Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The third<\/em>\nmark is found in verse 5 where we see his surrender. This command is to \u201cCOMMIT thy works unto the Lord<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d\nThe idea of this word \u201ccommit<\/em>\u201d is to\nroll a burden onto something that you believe can carry the weight. I must know\nHim<\/em> in order to trust Him<\/em> with\nthe burdens of my life<\/strong>. The idea here is that of surrendering my heart,\nyielding my desires to Him\u2014surrendering to His leading. The more I know Him the\nmore I can see that His ways are always<\/em>\nbest. His way is the perfect way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor My<\/strong> thoughts are<\/em> not\nyour thoughts, neither are<\/em> your ways My<\/strong> ways, saith the Lord<\/em><\/strong>. For as<\/em> the heavens are higher than the\nearth, so are My<\/strong> ways higher than your ways, and My<\/strong> thoughts than\nyour thoughts.\u201d\u2014Isaiah 55:8-9<\/p>\n\n\n\n The command to \u201ctrust in the Lord<\/em>\u201d is to surrender<\/em> our thoughts, bringing them in line with God\u2019s thoughts which leads to obedience. In the book of Proverbs, we see a precept<\/em> and a promise<\/em>. The precept is, \u201cCommit thy works unto the Lord<\/strong><\/em>\u201d while the promise is, \u201cand thy thoughts shall be established<\/em>\u201d (Proverbs 16:3). We must surrender our way to the Father and He will stabilize our thoughts. The \u201cgood man\u2019s<\/em>\u201d way is marked by steps that are surrendered<\/em> to the Lord because he sees<\/em>, with the eye of faith, that God\u2019s way is best. This is the way that God delights in because it is His way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fourth<\/em> mark is found in verse 7 where we see his stillness. This command is \u201cREST in the Lord<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d The idea of this word \u201crest<\/em>\u201d is that of quietness. \u201cBe still<\/em>\u201d before the Lord, knowing that He alone is God (Psalm 46:10). My resting is based upon my trusting<\/em>, knowing Who my God is.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGrace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God<\/strong>, and of Jesus<\/strong> our Lord<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d\u20142 Peter 1:2<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is because of WHO I know that I can be still<\/em>. As I commit my way to the Lord my burdens are lifted and I can rest being still in perfect trust even though the storm still rages. The \u201cgood man\u2019s<\/em>\u201d way is marked by a mind that is still <\/em>before the Lord, no longer fighting for his own way, because he knows and trusts his God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nfifth<\/em> mark is found in verse 34 where we see his submission. This command is \u2013 \u201cWAIT upon\nthe <\/em>Lord<\/em><\/strong>\u201d\n(v. 34) \u2013 \u201cWaiting<\/em>\u201d carries the idea\nof patient confidence<\/em>. Whereas our surrender<\/em> is to cease from fighting for\nour way, submission<\/em> is intentionally\nbringing our way under God\u2019s way. Our trusting the Lord is evidenced in our\nsubmission to His will and His way, knowing that His timing is perfect. I must\nwait in submission<\/em> for His process to come to fruition to complete God\u2019s\nintended purposes. The \u201cgood man\u2019s<\/em>\u201d way\nis marked by a soul in submission<\/em> to\nthe Lord because he is trusting that God\u2019s way\nis best as he yields to God\u2019s control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obedience to these five positive commands enable us to \u201cfret not<\/em>.\u201d They enable us to be still though the storms of the trial rages all around. Though the circumstances remain unchanged our heart can rest. This is the way that the Lord delights in<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, embrace the trial, My dear child, My best is what you\u2019ll see,<\/em>Beyond the suffering you feel, My Son they soon shall see.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nBe STABLE\u2014\u201cTRUST in the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be SATISFIED\u2014\u201cDELIGHT thyself<\/em> in the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be SURRENDERED\u2014\u201cCOMMIT thy<\/em> works unto the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be STILL\u2014\u201cREST in<\/em> the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be SUBMISSIVE\u2014\u201cWAIT upon<\/em> the Lord<\/strong>.<\/em>\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n