Delight requires dedication. It requires discipline. Tuning out the world to center our attention on the God of the universe seems like it should be easy, but experience proves otherwise. Therefore, we must heed the words of the apostle Paul who said, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7b NASB). Consistent, diligent meditation on the Word of God will bring us the delights of a blessed life.
Every morning is an opportunity for us to experience the blessed life Christ has laid out for us. Each day, our delight can be filled to the brim, not through the mudpies of this world but with a five-course meal laid out by the Creator of the universe. We get more than the shallow promises of the prosperity gospel with its misleading claims of the power of positive thinking wrapped in Christian jargon. We receive far more than the negative buffet of depressing clickbait offered by digital and social media. In Christ, our spiritual thirst is quenched with Living Water (John 7:38). In him, our spiritual hunger is satisfied by the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
This delightful, blessed living is costly but won’t break the bank. You don’t need to make a down payment or monthly installment plan to start experiencing it today. All you need is the Word of God, a readied heart, and a willingness to use your mind for the glory of God. Psalm 1 introduces us to a blessed man who doesn’t live his life according to worldly ways. Instead, “his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:1–2).
True blessedness isn’t found in the treasures of this world. They’ll either vanish shortly after we grasp them, or we’ll lose our grip on them when we close our eyes and enter eternity. True pleasure comes not from minding earthly cares or mindlessly binging on the delicacies of our digital Babylon. Rather than the bread of anxious toil, our souls crave the bread of life (Ps. 127:2). We eat from the King’s table, laid out from end to end with fresh-baked bread, cold-pressed olive oil, flawlessly roasted asparagus tips, and melt-in-your-mouth lamb seasoned with the freshest rosemary, thyme, and oregano. But we must ignore the smell of the ultra-processed, chemical-laden McDonald’s on our way to the palace.
Why Do We Choose Displeasure Over Delight?
Why would anybody choose a lifetime of table scraps, TV dinners, and the occasional bag of Taco Bell over gourmet cuisine at no cost? Some palates are more attuned to inexpensive or lower-quality foods, even if finer foods are offered. I grew up eating barbecue bologna—don’t knock it till you try it!—and I still eat it at my dad’s barbecues to this day. There’s a nostalgic sense of connection to my culture and upbringing. So it is with our souls. Sometimes we choose the latest celebrity gossip or sin-laden movie because that’s what we’ve always enjoyed. Instead of hymns filled with rich gospel truth, we choose shallower types of music that lodge worldly creeds deep in our subconscious.
Another reason is that some of the tastiest and healthiest foods require a mature palate to enjoy them.