He Delights in Me.

I recently read a book that asked the question "Do your kids know that you delight in them?" Not in their successes and achievements. Not when they are on their best behavior but just the delight of their presence? Should I mention that it's summer, we're all together a little more than normal and the fighting has started ? It's Delightful. (She said sarcastly winking at her computer)

The word delight means great pleasure. I can think of alot of things that bring me great pleasure, but do the attitude and actions of my heart communicate that the very presence of my kids bring me great pleasure? That I had to think on.

The Bible says that King David was "a man after God's own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14)

What a title, but let's not get lost in titles! When the Bible refers to David as a "man after God's own heart" its referring to the fact that he was chosen. He was chosen by God, to rule the people of Israel. God chose David. But why?

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel layout the story of David's life. A young son, a faithful shepherd, a runaway, a harpist, a poet, a warrior, a rapist, murderer, father, king and a man after God's own heart. The list of David's titles read as a spicy New York Times best seller and yet, this was a man who was chosen as ruler over the people of Israel because through it all, he knew the Lord and remained faithful to Him.

In 2 Samuel, David exhales a sigh of relief as the Lord has delivered him from his enemies. Can you imagine that ? For years he has been running for his life, and now the Lord has redeemed him from his enemies. Time to order a pizza and watch Netflix anyone? Ok, not an option...hang with me. What does David do? He praises!

Life has not been easy for David. David had brought tragedy upon himself and has felt the weight of tragedy due to the sin of others. Yet, he's walked with the Lord through it all. David knew that God's faithfulness, love and mercy far outweighed his own flaws.

2 Samuel 22:16-20

He REACHED down from heaven and rescued me;

he drew me out of the deep waters.

He RESCUED me from my powerful enemies,

from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress but the Lord supported me.

He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he DELIGHTS in me.

The Lord REWARDED me for doing right;

he RESTORED me because of my innocence.

David, now looking back, calls upon the Lord with a humble heart and God reaches down. This word picture is so beautiful. In all your trials, failures, diminshing thoughts and insecurities, God is so loving that He reaches down to grasp the one who calls upon His name.

God reached so that He could rescue. David had been running for a long time from his enemies. This couldn't possibly be the kind of life scenario for God's chosen? Except that it was, and when the road wasn't easy David's heart remained faithful to God.

God is a God of promises and He rewarded David for doing what was right. Is there a circumstance that you need to bring before the Lord? An area that you need to make right with Him? Are you tired of doing the right thing and not seeing any fruit from it? My friend, the Lord sees and rewards those who follow Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

He restores me. David was chosen as a young shepherd boy. He trusted in the promise of God's choosing, but much time had passed bewtween David's first anointing and final anointing. From the human eye, David would have had every right to get even, get ugly and give up. David knew God's timing was best, even when he couldn't understand. David was restored back to God's original plan because he had humbled himself and asked for forgiveness. But let's not miss a very important part of this Scripture. God didn't do this for David because of David's efforts. God reached, rescued, rewarded and restored because He, DELIGHTS.

Our Heavenly Father DELIGHTS in us. Not because of what we do for Him, but because He loves us and chose us. I may not always demonstrate this perfect attitude of delight over my children, but may I always strive to show them that delight isn't dependent upon their actions. Despite all my efforts, God still chose me to be his child and delights in me. If you're feeling worn out, I pray that you would call upon His name just as David did. He is waiting to reach, rescue, reward and restore you to himself because girl...He delights in you.