You do not have to ask me twice if I want ice cream. I truly delight in ice cream. This past weekend I was offered homemade ice cream while visiting a friend. My choice of three flavors – nutella, vanilla, or birthday cake. The birthday cake style included sprinkles! Absolutely delicious. There is something about ice cream that just excites and delights me.
What delights you? Do you have something in your life that just draws you? In the Bible there is a connection between delight and happiness. To be more specific, the Bible teaches that if you find delight in taking in the Bible, then you are half-way to happiness. Let me explain.
Oh the Happiness of the Person
The author of Psalm 1 describes the happy person. He suggests the happiness depends upon two different definitive actions. The author writes,
1 Oh the happiness of the person
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
The psalmist describes two specific actions that help the Christian become happy. First, being separate from the world. Secondly, being consumed by God’s Word. With these two steps, the Bible promises you to become happy.
Developing Your Delight
It is impossible to force yourself to delight in something. Delight is a matter of developed taste, like my delight of homemade ice cream. The way to begin to develop a delight for God’s Word is twofold, according to this psalmist. First, you have to limit you engagement with the world system; that is, say no to the world (v. 1). Second, you have to meditate on God’s Word. Find fun ways to read the Bible (v. 2). (Most books of the Bible can be read in under 30 minutes.)
Today let your journey begin by using your internet time or TV time to read 20 minutes in one of the Gospels.
