Because He Delighted
“He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”
The journey of abiding in Christ is allowing the truth of who he is, holiness undeniable, faithfulness unchanging, and divinity unchallenged, to contrast with the tenderness of his heart, love unconditional, mercy everlasting, and salvation eternal.
We need to look at the heart of wisdom, as Jacob wrote yesterday, and consider that the fear of the Lord is the only rightful response to seeing God. We also need to read the story of the prodigal son and get caught up in unexplainable grace.
Psalm 18:19 always echos in my heart, reminding me that God is for me, even when I do not understand why. Although it is a simple verse, it carries a transformational truth.
Something is only rescued because it has worth, is salvageable, or is personally precious. I remember once when I left a small USB drive at my in-laws while visiting for vacation. The coming week I had a recording session that I could not do without it. I frantically called them and offered to pay the ridiculous overnight shipping to make sure it got home safe. On the other hand, I’ve left a bottle of shampoo or a pair of socks and not thought much about it at all.
When David declares that God rescued him, he reveals that somehow he had enough value to God that God would go out and deliver him. Generally, I think most Christians can get on board with their value to God. We understand (at least intellectually) that God created us, loves us, and teaches us how to live a holy life.
If our perception of our worth to God is based on our works, we might miss the power of this verse. David is not saying, “You rescued me because I showed you my worth.” His salvation came because God delighted in him. His worth came not from what he did but from who he was. Of course, obedience and faithfulness are central to a healthy Christian life, but the point here is that God loves us even without those pressures.
I want to share a life-changing moment. I was facing so many lies and unbeatable oppression. The darkness was stealing my mind and erasing my sanity. The enemy was closing in with everything he had to take me down. At that point, there was nothing I could do to help myself. I couldn’t even pray a prayer.
In my darkness, I heard the voice of Jesus asking me if he could rescue me. I could barely nod my head, yes, but he came. Without praying a prayer, singing a worship song, or reading a bible verse, Jesus came and routed the darkness with his light.
I felt so loved and cared for by the Lord. It taught me that sometimes our deliverance has nothing to do with the prayers we pray or the songs we sing, but everything to do with the fact that God rescues us because he delights in us.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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