"I Trust In YOU, O LORD, For YOU Are My GOD!"

Delighting in GOD!

(James Smith, "The Believer's Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble" 1842)

"Delight yourself in the LORD--
and HE shall give you the desires 
of your heart!" Psalm 37:4 

Delighting in worldly things--

effectually prevents our delighting 

in GOD. Therefore it is often the case, 

that the LORD strips us of these things, 

or incapacitates us to enjoy them--

in order to bring us back to delight in HIMSELF.

HE delights in HIS people--

and HE desires that HIS people to 

delight in HIM. In order to accomplish this, 

HE has revealed HIMSELF in the most amiable 

characters, as . . .

  a HUSBAND;
  a FRIEND;
  a BROTHER;
  a SAVIOR;
  a SHEPHERD, and so forth--
all on purpose to endear HIMSELF to us!

Surely if our hearts were right--

we would delight in HIM on account of . . .
  HIS glorious perfections;
  HIS unalterable love;
  the perfect atonement made for our sins;
  the promises made for our comfort and encouragement;
  the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT;
  the communion we are urged to hold with HIMSELF;
  and the glorious paradise of blessedness set before us--

where we shall forever . . .
    view the unfolding of HIS glories,
    enjoy the riches of HIS grace, and
    drink of the river of HIS pleasures!

Sick Christian, JESUS bids you to delight in HIM!

Delight in HIM as your SAVIOR, FRIEND, and BROTHER!

Delight in HIS person and glories!

Delight in HIS perfect work!

Delight in HIS glorious fullness!

Delight in your salvation in HIM, 

union to HIM, and claim upon HIM.
Oh, delight in JESUS! 

You will have no permanent 

peace or solid satisfaction--

but as you are delight in HIM, and 

rejoice in HIM, saying, 

"YOU are my portion, O LORD!" 
(Psalms 119:57) 

He who delights in GOD 

as the desires of HIS heart--

because they are in accordance 

with the purpose, promise, and 

pleasure of GOD.

The mind is thrown into the mold 

of GOD'S mind, and the soul cries from 

its inmost recesses, 

"Not my will--
but may YOUR will be done!" 
(Luke 22:42c)

Its pleasures are spiritual, 

permanent, and satisfactory. 

The desire for earthly things 

becomes very contracted--

a little of the things of this poor world will 

satisfy a soul that is delighting in JEHOVAH.

Delighting in GOD always produces 

resignation and holy contentment. 

Whatever they have--

they enjoy it as the undeserved 

gift of GOD; and they feel obligated 

and thankful for all. They would rather 

be conformed to GOD'S will--

than have their own will. 

They know that HIS appointments 

are best--because they are infinitely 

wise, holy, and gracious. They can say, 

"I trust in YOU, O LORD, for YOU are 
my GOD! My times are in YOUR hand!" 
(Psalm31:14)

They find that godliness with 

contentment is great gain; and 

say with one of old, 

"The little that a righteous man has--
is better than the riches of many wicked!" 
(Psalms 37:16)

"Better a little with the fear of the LORD--
than great treasure with turmoil." (Proverbs 18:16)

The presence, the promise, and the smile of GOD--

are to them inestimably valuable; but other things 

are not so important. They seek first the kingdom 

of GOD and HIS righteousness--

and all other necessary things are added 

unto them. They live at the fountain--

when all the streams are dried up! 

They delight in GOD--

when creatures fade and wither!

O LORD! I would delight in THEE,
And on YOUR care depend;
To YOU in every trouble flee,
My best, my only FRIEND!

No good in creatures can be found,
But may be found in THEE;
I must have all things and abound,
While GOD is GOD to me!

   
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GraceGems has published J.R. Miller's practical 2 page article, 
"How to Meet Temptation".