My Husband and I was doing a study yesterday on delighting yourself in the Lord (Ps. 37:4). In our search we found that the meaning of this can be summed up in four words: "Becoming as a child." The attitude of a child is delightsome and full of joy. He is prideless. He is delicate and fragile. He revels in joyful frolic and play. He's not ashamed to sport himself in pure joy.
Becoming as a child in our attitude toward God made me think of a child's pure delight on Christmas morning. He finds it hard to sleep Christmas Eve because he's to excited. He knows that in the morning he will behold the most beautiful sight in all the world. "Presents under the Christmas tree."
I remember when I was a child I would wake up real early on Christmas morning. It would still be dark outside. I would peek around my bedroom door and gaze upon the shaded images of presents around the Christmas tree. I would scan the living room the best I could with the help of the street lights and the glistening white snow shining through the living room window. I wouldn't dare leave that doorway and go into that beautiful room, at least not yet it wasn't time. A part of me didn't mind relishing in the excitement and anticipation a little while longer. As I gazed upon that beautiful Christmas tree, all the gifts and the snow outside I can remember my heart being filled with so much joy. It was like little happy bubbles rising up inside of me and filling me to overflowing. It took every ounce of strength I could muster to keep from yelling at the top of my lungs in pure joyful bliss! But alas, I would slip back into my bed and snuggle in my warm covers. Closing my eyes I would say to myself, that in just a short while I'm going to get to open some of the best gifts that have ever been given to me. Then I would drift off into sweet joyous slumber. Life was soo beautiful and perfect at that moment in time.
Yesterday, I found myself asking this question: "What happened to that child?" Haven't I been given the best gift of all by my Father in heaven? God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (Jn.3:16). Did my Father not say that He will continue to supply our every need and give us good gifts? Is it not our Heavenly Father's desire for us to receive from Him all that He has to give? He is a God that gives and gives and gives some more. Through the bad times and the good times God is faithful to give us His strength, His Joy, His Peace. He is faithful to supply every need according to His riches in Heaven. His plans for each of His children is good. Not to harm them but to give them a hope and a future. When we hear of God's great love toward us and the great gifts that He has given and still desires to give, do we rejoice as the little child and delight ourselves in Him? Do we take great joy in His presence as we worship and praise Him? Do we expectantly await and anticipate His return? Do we rejoice in the day that He has given us? Do we frolic in His love and care like a child would on Christmas morning? Do we happily receive the gifts He desires to bestow upon us? Or do we say to ourselves, I'm not worthy to receive? Do we truly sport ourselves in a pure child like joy in the Lord? Do we realize that as a child of God, His joy is our joy and our joy His?
This Christmas season and the days to come I'm going to truly delight myself in the Lord, and keep alive the child of Christmas morning. How about you?
