A Day of Delighting in the Lord

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2014~Volume 14, Number 9

My Dear Sisters,
   
What do you do when you are in need of spiritual rejuvenation? We certainly “go in the strength of the Lord GOD” (Psalm 71:16), yet we still retain our human frailty and God knows that there are times when, like Elijah, “the journey is too much for thee.” Do you attend a Christian conference? read a devotional book? talk to family or a good friend? go on vacation? eat a chocolate candy? :) None of these are wrong and in fact may be a tremendous blessing (except for the chocolate!). However, there is one thing which is simply incomparable, it is so infinitely better. It worked for Elijah, it’s worked for Christians all through the ages, and I wholeheartedly recommend it: Spend a day with Jesus!

I recently ended up home by myself for an entire day. Initially, I thought I’d be lonely, but then I remembered a friend’s “day with the Lord” several years back. I had been inspired by her idea but had not personally implemented it, so I quickly resolved to spend the day earnestly seeking the Lord and delighting in Him. It was so refreshing! There is nothing so gloriously transforming as to be in His presence—beholding the beauty of the Lord and worshipping Him. 
   
Normally when I’m left at home alone, I fly undistracted to conquer my to-do list and maybe that of my family. But this time I felt the Lord calling me to Himself in a special way—to deliberately rest in and delight in Him all day long. It was such a blessing to me. There were some basic chores to be done, but while at these tasks, I was able to continue meditating on the Lord and, as the beloved hymn says, “commune as friend to Friend.”
   
Because this was a tremendous encouragement to me, I wanted to share it with you and encourage you also to spend a day of delighting in the Lord! In fact, this is a critical aspect of “reflecting Christ’s love” (this month’s topic). You see, we should be actively serving the Lord, but we must be receiving His glorious truth if we are to effectively proclaim it. We must accept His grace if we desire to be a vessel of it; we must allow His love to pervade every area of our lives if we are to share it with others. We cannot serve Him effectively and be a useful tool in His hands if we do not spend quality time with Him. Charles Spurgeon attested to this: “I am more and more persuaded from my own experience that in proportion to the strength of our private lives with God, so will be the force of our character and the power of our work for Him among men. Let us look well to this.”
   
This is why—since it is not always possible to set aside life’s activities to seek the Lord for an entire day—we should be diligent in our daily “quiet time” with Him to maintain our spiritual health, and of course we should enjoy spending time with Him as we go about our daily duties (Deuteronomy 6:4-7). That morning time of seeking His face affects the remainder of our day with Him! However, there are times when more focused concentration is necessary. Elijah couldn’t always be alone in a cave—God had much work for him to do in Israel. Yet he needed his strength renewed; he needed to be refreshed in the Lord.
   
Your day of delighting in the Lord will look different from mine; seek Him for exactly how He would have you to pattern it. But here are a few ideas to get you started:
   

• ~ “Abundantly uttering the memory of His great goodness” (thanking and praising Him for His mercy in your life and in the lives of your family) 
• ~ Spending much time in His Word and in prayer (This is paramount! It’s our way to pour out our heart before Him and to listen to His voice!)
• ~ Singing to Him                            
• ~ Listening to truth-filled sermons
• ~ Reading devotional books           
• ~ Resting in Him
• ~ Seizing opportunities to bless and encourage someone else
• ~ Writing a testimony of His faithfulness in your life

Every day, the Lord teaches us precious truths from His eternal Word. During a special day set apart for Him, however, we have ample time to record some of the gems He gives from Scripture. I’d like to share a few of my gleanings, taken from the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19, in hopes that they will be an encouragement to you--
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Available & Willing. What a beautiful story of the blessed widow who was used by God to minister to Elijah and to manifest God’s power! The Lord reminded me that His desire is for me also to simply be available to Him and be willing to obey, whether in large or small ways. This is a daily opportunity to glorify Him. The widow gave everything she had for the work of the Lord. When we give our all—however small it may be—He multiplies our humble gift, and does exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think! It is as we remain faithful in the daily duties the Lord sets before us, that He makes His will clear for “what’s next,” and brings further opportunities to glorify Him, sometimes through unexpected modes of service, in unique and extraordinary ways.
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Courageous & Self-Sacrificing. Then there is Obadiah, who feared the Lord from his youth, an humble servant of Jehovah God. He had performed a daring and courageous feat to preserve God’s faithful remnant, but he, even in the face of fear of death, would do as Elijah bid him, informing wicked King Ahab of Elijah’s return. I should be like Obadiah, willing to give of myself wholly to please and obey my Lord.
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Discouraged but not Defeated. Elijah saw so much of God’s power and His faithfulness, but he was a human being. He felt alone, forgotten, and discouraged. He believed he was the only one left—and that soon even his life would be snuffed out. Yet that was not true! And our loving, caring heavenly Father showed Elijah that while His voice is powerful and full of majesty, it can also be still and small. He reminded His child that He had preserved a host of dear and faithful saints. God would strengthen, encourage, and refresh Elijah (meeting his spiritual and physical needs) before He sent him back to his mission field to accomplish work for the eternal kingdom.
   
The stories of the men and women who have gone before us are recorded in God’s Word for our learning, that we also through faith and patience may inherit the promises. Our Lord cares for our spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being; He loves us and gives us strength, rest, rejuvenation, and the sustenance necessary to continue in this journey of serving and glorifying Him. He continually calls us to Himself, and by His grace, He enables us to be faithful.
   
Through the power of His Spirit (not in our own strength!), may we be resolved to view each day as a day He has created (Psalm 118:24) for us to glorify Him in some eternally significant way—whether it’s fixing dinner for our family, following His instruction, comforting a hurting friend—whatever it is, let us trust Him to lead us as we earnestly seek Him each day. May He continually go before us and make our paths straight; and may we have fullness of joy because of His glorious presence is in our lives. Let us truly rest in Him amidst our work and as we saturate our hearts and minds in His truth (His Word), may we trust Him and have His clear direction in each decision that must be made. Let us recognize ourselves as humble servants of the Most High, available and willing to do His work. This is the day He has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!