May the Lord’s pleasure be your portion!

Today, we’re going to talk about pleasure.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight [pleasure] is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (The Bible, Psalm 1:1-3)

For years, I wrongly believed that we have to separate pleasure and delight from God.

In my mind, on one hand there were the pleasures of the world: eating and drinking, fun activities, traveling, etc., and on the other hand, there was a God who only asked difficult, sad, and guilt-inducing things. How wrong I was!

The Lord created pleasure! And because He loves us, He also created a framework for it so we can thrive. When we respect this framework, we become like fish in water—fully alive and happy in their natural habitat! So it is with pleasure God’s way.

When we depart from God’s will, we can become very discontented, even as we’re pursuing enjoyment. But when we’re living in His will, there is delight, joy, extraordinary pleasure!

When Jesus was baptized, God spoke aloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (The Bible, Matthew 3:17)

When God speaks to us, guides us, and directs our lives, it’s true pleasure that we experience.

You can find your delight and pleasure in the law of the Lord—in other words, His Word. In this place, the Bible promises you joy!

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (The Bible, Psalm 16:11)

My friend, in this day, let God visit you and fill you with His joy and presence. Let Him put His peace in your heart and His smile on your face. I pray that the pleasure of the Lord is your portion today!