Delight in His Glory

“May our hearts prepare Him room, our lives reflect His presence and our homes delight in His love.“

Hi dear friends, it has been quite a long time since my last post. A lot has happened in the past few months. I was running full steam ahead and didn’t realize how tired I was. I decided it was time to slow things down. Our natural desire is to rest, but I often found myself saying no. My response to keep going was failing me, and I quickly needed to adjust. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve encountered experiences over these few months that were surprisingly magical, moments where I suddenly found myself wrapped up in excitement. The word delight is truly the only way to describe it.

Delight is those feelings accompanying life’s big moments. They arrive with news that a new baby has been born. They appear in the most exciting moments of wedding bliss. They turn on with each light we string on our tall evergreen tree, lodged firmly in the corner of our living room. They are wedged between the friends I finally managed to gather at the table. Lots of work can go into coordinating those delight-filled moments. And in a season that can already feel heavy with expectations, no one needs the added pressure of orchestrating moments of delight.

But as I dove deeper into this idea, I began to see that my perspective only skimmed the surface. Delight happens in the big moments, yes, but it can also come when we are in the presence of God. It can even appear in the tiny pauses of everyday life–when we slow down and let ourselves notice the details of His glory unfolding around us. Reaching out a hand to feel the first snowflake of the season delicately fall against the skin. The sturdy evergreens stand tall and wide on winter’s margin. The comfort of a cozy blanket, with a cup of your favorite warm beverage, as you curl up to hear the story of Christmas. In that context, delight is perhaps more likely to occur in the presence of Christ.

Once I recognized every day as a place where God reigns, I couldn’t resist grasping at this concept. Perhaps, the idea that delight can be found anywhere, in literally any moment, is where I quickly found myself clinging to God. It is a reminder that while the holiday events involve decorating our homes, wrapping presents, and baking sweet treats, they aren’t prerequisites for finding joy within the setup of these aesthetics. We can construct moments of delight, which is a part of our long-held traditions, but also expect the delight of His glory to show up unannounced just the same.

“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God…” -Isaiah 61:10

This holiday season, be intentional to pursue both, most assuredly, seek God’s presence in every part of life. Be encouraged to consider what we might open our hearts and minds to beginning anew. And when it comes to pursuing the things we delight in, look no further than Jesus Christ. His story inspires us to seek joy even in the tiniest details foretold within the pages of the Bible.

Few things bring me such delight as we approach Christmas, gathering around the table with family and friends over comfort food, praying with each other, and sharing Christ-centered experiences. I am grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ and salvation. He has trained my eyes to see delight everywhere, and I hope the same for you. I hope you will find yourself opening up as well, perhaps to consider how delighting in Him might appear in ways you hadn’t considered before. As you set out for the rest of this season, may you be ready for wherever and whenever delight may find you.