7 Habits (cont’d)
Habit 7: Enjoy God
Do you take daily delight in your relationship with God? He wants to be enjoyed by us. This is the most marvelous relationship we can ever have and yet we usually miss out on all God has in store because we are so focused on the material realm. Our God is invisible but His daily involvement in our lives and presence is obvious to a discerning observer. There are several ways you can enjoy God moment by moment throughout every day.
Delight in God’s Presence:
Enjoy being aware that He is constantly with you
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.” (Psalm 89:15, NIV)
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV)
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:7-12, NIV)
“The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14, NIV)
“… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV)
“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11, NIV).
“Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” (Psalm 21:6, NIV).
“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” (1 Peter 1:8, NLTSE)
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21, NIV)
Throughout each day, are you conscious of God’s presence? How do you acknowledge Him? How do you relate to Him?
Delight in Communicating with God:
Enjoy speaking with God about your interests, concerns and desires
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)
“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)
“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24, NIV)
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18, NIV)
“… pray continually;” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV)
Two-way prayer involves speaking to God and quieting our hearts so we can hear Him speak to us. During the course of each day, are you honest and transparent with God? Do you know how to quiet your heart to listen to God?
Delight in God’s Creation:
Enjoy the beauty of His handiwork
“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are people that you should think about them, mere mortals that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3,4, NLTSE)
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16, NIV)
“Think of the wonderful works he has done, the miracles, and the judgments he handed down,” (1 Chronicles 16:12, NLT)
“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works on man’s behalf!” (Psalm 66:5, NIV)
“Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him half enough?” (Psalm 106:2, NLT)
Delight in God’s Character:
Enjoy worshiping His magnificent attributes
“O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?” (Deuteronomy 3:24, NIV)
“Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you–majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11, NIV)
“Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery! How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” (Psalm 145:3,5, NLT)
“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:1, 2, NIV)
“Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.” (Psalm 43:4, NIV)
“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.” (Psalm 145:3-5, NIV)
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?” (Job 11:7, NIV)
Delight in God’s Word:
Enjoy His promises and the hope they bring
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2, NIV)
“Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.” (Psalm 112:1, NIV)
“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” (Psalms119:35, NIV)
“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” (Psalm 119:92, NIV)
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12, NIV)
“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;” (Romans 7:22, NIV)
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97, NIV)
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16, NIV)
Delight in God’s Salvation:
Enjoy peace with God because of your righteousness in Christ
“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,…” (Isaiah 61:10, NIV)
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1, NIV)
“For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10, NIV)
“Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.” (Psalm 35:9, NIV)
Delight in God’s Goodness:
Enjoy His gifts and daily blessings
“This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.” (Psalm 118:24, 25, NLT)
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4, NIV)
“There you and your families will feast in the presence of the LORD your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the LORD your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 12:7 (NLTSE)
“Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.” (Psalm 72:18, NIV)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3, NIV)
“You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:14, NIV)
“For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.” (Psalm 86:10, NIV)
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11, NIV)
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV)
How has God recently demonstrated His love and goodness to you? Did you notice God controlling circumstances? Did God intervene to get you out of a negative situation? Did God provide for a need? Did God protect you from harm or evil? Did you become aware of an answer to a specific prayer?
Ask the Holy Spirit to make the preceding scriptures a reality in your life. Cultivate the art of enjoying our invisible, magnificent God.