A LIFE THAT DELIGHTS IN GOD...

The minute you say the prayer of salvation, your life changes completely. You're a new creation, behold the old has passed away ( 2 Corinthians 5:17). Well you might not see the external change Immediately, something on the inside of you is surely different.

Your desires start to take on a different shape, you begin to choose differently and subconsciously you start wondering what it takes to get God's approval. So the journey to discovering what pleases your Lord and savior begins. I say journey because let's admit it, the road isn't always straightforward.

But why does it matter whether we please Him or not? I mean we could just go on living life without worrying about getting God's approval. Yet somehow we feel unfulfilled

living a life that brings no pleasure to our Father. It's like when we see Him smile then automatically our joy becomes full too... Sounds great doesn't it, a life that pleases God, however in reality it doesn't always feel that great now does it? The question then becomes: Is it worth it?

Growing up it is only natural to want to please the people we look up to. Often times the first examples we encounter are our parents. We work a little harder to get their stamp of approval. We run from school with our achievements excited to see the smile on their faces when they see that we've done what makes their hearts glad. If not our parents then it's our older siblings, our teachers, our friends and even sometimes a role model that inspires us.

We go in our own strength to try and achieve all that we can just to attain an

applaud from the people in our lives. We may not be aware of it at first but deep down there's a desire for acceptance and belonging so we tie acceptance to achievement.

Human acceptance comes with so many unfulfilled expectations and endless limitations... Somehow there's a standard as to what it means to qualify for a stamp of approval from the audience. Society's rules keep changing and just when you think you've caught up then boom, the standard changes because human beings change, and that's just our nature. We are like shifting sand, there's always a new trend , a new level of achievement to attain and eventually we become exhausted in trying to play to a tune that remains inconsistent.

I remember performing for audience most of my life, attempting to make sure that I do not step on any toes or disappoint any hearts until I was left with an empty cup. Along the way I didn't notice the cage that was slowly forming around my soul because I was too focused on attending to humanity's impossible list. The approval never came and the applaud faded as quickly as water evaporates on a hot sunny day. I was in chains that felt heavy all in the name of trying to please people. It was not until I encountered the Potter who formed me in my mother's womb that I found freedom. The clay finally remembered who it's Maker was (Jeremiah18:6).And just like that my audience narrowed from many to ONE.

See a life that delights in God is orthodox to what society would define it as. A

sacrifice He does not want but a contrite spirit He finds pleasure in (Psalm 51:16-17). A king who was instructed to destroy everything took it upon himself to bring back some goods to offer as a sacrifice however that was the day the kingdom was torn from him because God is more interested in the vessel than the offering (1 Samuel 15:22). Obedience is better than sacrifice... It wasn't Cain's offering that was subpar but rather his heart that didn't meet God's standards (Genesis 4:4-5).

How then do we then gratify a perfect God? Do we mark our attendance every Sunday at church? Do we learn the perfect melodies and spiritual lingua? Does our dress code qualify us? Do we choose to be peacekeepers instead of peacemakers? Do we mark off our routine list? Or rather do we hide our lights under the beds out of fear of being called different?

It almost sounds impossible to make God's heart skip a beat because how can an imperfect being bring pleasure to a perfect Creator? Yet, it is He who extends an invitation to say come as you are and take up my yoke which is easy and my burden that is light (Matthew 11:28- 30).

He loved us first and predestined us to share in His glory.

David killed and lied yet He was known to move the heart of the Father, why? Because he was quick to repent and run to the One who could save Him (Psalm 51:3-4). He didn't allow his mistake to deter him from always seeking the Father's heart... He learned not to lean on his own understanding for there is a way that seems right to a man but it's end is destruction (Proverbs 14:12). David danced, sung and ran after the keeper of his soul every chance he got.

The amazing thing is that we don't have to achieve anything because Jesus already did on our behalf... The perfect lamb made a way for us to dine with the King (Hebrews 10). He made room for us at the table. Our forever intercessor washed us as white as snow. All He asks from us is our Yes. A contrite spirit He delights in. A pure heart He won't turn away. A humble posture He won't ignore. A life laid down He won't deny. And a daily sacrifice of praise He won't silence.

The song writer asks "What can I do for you, what can I bring to you, what kind of song would you like me to sing. And I hear

you say you don't have to do a thing, simply just be here with Me and love on Me a little longer" (Bethel: A little longer) What can move the heart of a benevolent King? The answer is quite simple: You

If I'm all He wants, then exactly how do I bring pleasure to my King? Well Making God smile is nothing done in our own strength and everything done through the Holy Spirit, the helper of man.

David prayed "Please don't take your presence away from me" (Psalm 51:11) for he understood that better was one day in the Father's house than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:10). It is impossible to please God without faith because those who come to Him must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews11:6).

And what is faith you may wonder?

Simply put: it is completely trusting and believing in the One who has held your heart for eternity.

So I finally closed the curtains to a never ending performance and learned that all He ever wanted was my heart no matter how it looked like and as long as I Keep giving Him my Yes, His smile will never fade away... Perfectionism was never the goal but an unhindered surrender to the One that has held my heart from the beginning is what it's all about. In Him I move, and live and have my being (Acts 17:28)... Pleasing Him is a journey of discovering who He is through His word, constantly talking to Him, seeing Him in the wind as it blows the leaves or in the ocean as it rises or in the simple moments of laughter with a friend.

So a life that Delights in God may not always look aesthetic but trust me it's worth giving your all for because God never goes back on His Word and unlike us, He is steady ground to land on.

Article is written by Vimanuka Kavari a Christian lady who finds her identity in Christ alone and a lover of words.