Today we hear from Marlys Burgett, Director of Women’s Ministries. These were her words to us October 19, 2010 during Titus Women worship time.
About 3 weeks ago, Shereen and I left Titus Women and went to visit Jill Truckee in the hospital. She had just delivered her new baby boy, Andrew. We entered the hospital room to see Jill sweetly looking down on the newest member of her family. Her eyes were bright blue and she looked beautiful, radiant. Her smile was huge and she was peaceful, serene, contented.
She handed Andrew to Shereen. And as you do with a new baby, Shereen carefully held his head and drew him close, laying him in her lap. I had the blessing of a Kodak moment of sitting across the room watching the scene unfold. Whispers of “isn’t he lovely”, “how sweet and beautiful” “Oohs and aahs”. Jill watched Andrew being held by Shereen. Both were smiling and happy, overjoyed; enthralled in the wonder of creation; delighted by this baby boy.
And you know, this is how God views us. He is delighted in us. He is enthralled with our beauty f
or He delighted to create each of us, unique in His marvelous image.
Webster defines delighted: pleased, happy, elated, overjoyed, charmed, enchanted, thrilled.
Psalm 104:31 “Let the glory of the LORD endure forever; let the LORD be glad in His works.”
He delights in what He has made; you and me!
Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like You? Who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving-kindness.”
He is delighted to shower us with love and kindness.
Jeremiah32:41 “And I will rejoice (delight) over them to do them good, and I will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.”
He is delighted to do us good, with all His heart and soul. Isn’t that incredible!
God is delighted! Do you believe that? Do you really believe He is delighted in you, His daughter? Are you delighted with Him?
Maybe you believe He could not be delighted with you. Perhaps there are things too awful in your life; situations God could not possibly delight in; relationships that well, if you were to be honest feel hopeless. Maybe you do not sense delight in your relationship with God. You are disappointed, heartbroken, frustrated; life has not gone as you had hoped.
A verse out of Job lends wisdom to these questions of delight and how to Thrive in this journey in life. This wisdom has been true for those of us here at Titus Women and for me in my life. After 32 years of flowing Jesus. He has never failed me.
Job 22:25 “Establish His words in your heart….return to Him and be restored…for then you will delight in the Almighty and life your face to God.”
Susie, (name changed for confidentiality) a young single mom of 3 kids asked for an appointment to see me. She is a woman who has been transformed literally inside and out due to walking with Jesus. She used to look worried, fretful and always nervous. She talked in circles over and over about all her problems. And yes, there are many. Now, 2 years later she sits and calmly talks about God in her life. How He has changed her heart, her choices, her friends, her priorities. She smiles and weeps with His goodness to her. But there’s one thing she is struggling with still, her past, it looms over her and robs her often of joy and peace. She knows Jesus has saved and forgiven her, but she is struggling to forgive herself, rehashing the sins, beating herself up. One evening she is reading in her Bible. She desperately wants to establish His word in her heart. She sees the verse: “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Thus the appointment with me. She’s heard my story and has a similar story to tell; secrets she has never shared with another: promiscuity, abortion, abuse of alcohol and drugs. I’m honored and humbled to sit and listen to her share her past. She continues reading her list: yelling at her kids because she is so frustrated with life. Gossiping at work. Fear; will she be able to provide for her children?
Suzie, “you are no longer bound by a past identity of poor choices, but bound to Jesus, your new identity who is delighted by you”.
Susie comes to the end of her list, we cry with tears of joy. We pray through Isaiah 61 (my favorite passage, here’s a synopsis);
“bringing good news to the afflicted,
binding up the broken hearted,
liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners,
comfort for those who mourn….so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified. Instead of shame and humiliation you will have a double portion and everlasting joy.”
We have a God who is delighted to shower forgiveness, mercy and blessing upon us!
Susie tears up and rips the list of past sins. “Wow that felt so good.” We walk hand in hand to another room. We drop the shreds of paper into the toilet and flush. We laugh, we say praise and glory and honor to God; delighting in Him and her freedom found in His loving arms. I sense the angels are rejoicing. Another child of God free of the past — He is delighted.
I ask you again, do you see God is delighted? Are you delighted in Him?
If not, I encourage you to spend time journaling on Psalm 103 and Isaiah 61. Ask Him to remove barriers to sense His delight for you. Find His character (attributes), who He is. Pray for your heart to be open to establish His word in your heart. Pray for restoration as you seek His face.
I don’t know about you but often I’m so prone to wander from Jesus. I want to be in charge, go my own way, be stoic and self-sufficient, not need anyone – that path always leads to frustration, anxiety and fear. But, when I return to Jesus, I am restored, safe at home…..delighted in Him and He in me.
Dear Lord Jesus, we bless you and thank you for being a God who is delighted in your creation….us! You pardon iniquities, heal diseases and You redeem our lives from the pit. You desire to crown us with loving kindness and compassion. You satisfy our desires with good things and renew our strength. Your compassion never fails for great is your faithfulness. All praise and glory and honor to You. Amen.
Equip Her 
