1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1 – 2, New International Version)
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8, New International Version)
You make 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, New International Version)
Theme: The Wisdom of Discipline
Title: Discipline and Delight
Reflection:
Self-discipline is often associated with uninspiring activities such as denial of desires or mundane work. There is nothing wrong with those associations, but there is a lot more to discipline than “tough it out” connotations. The blessed man in Psalm 1 brings this point to life. He is an individual that has found a source of pleasure in the word of God. The Hebrew word that is translated as “delight” is “chephets.” Chephets signifies a strong inclination or pleasure in something. In the three Scripture passages above, I see pleasure arising from a positive choice, not from serendipity. It is a choice with positive results. If we choose to taste what God has on offer we find that it is good. If we choose to be in God’s presence we are filled with joy and eternal pleasures.
Conclusion:
We have the capacity to associate discipline with pleasure. As reflected in the Psalms, we should prayerfully delight ourselves in God’s word and presence. How does the word of God bring you pleasure? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Contributor: Norman Christie
April 7, 2025 at 6:04 am
When reflecting on the amazing and unconditional sacrifice that allowed me to have a relationship with God and the hope of eternal life, I feel chephets. God’s word is encouraging and inspiring which provides delight as it helps with my daily experiences. It’s a wonderful feeling to gain enhanced direction, discernment and joy by being in His presence. I also delight in His word when reading and studying it with others. Whether in my Small Group, Men’s Bible Study or Sunday Worship, I experience joy through my and others enhanced understanding and different perspectives on the word as well as the feeling of being in his presence.
April 7, 2025 at 6:09 am
If I am in a tough situation and I am feeling down, I pray to God, asking for his help and comfort. If I am in a good or blessed situation, I also pray to God, thanking Him.
I pray, but there are Bible verses I say to myself in both the tough situations and the blessed ones that remind me…
– He will never leave me nor forsake me
– I will be at peace if my mind stays on Him
– He is my fortress and my strength
– He is merciful and gracious
– His mercy endures forever
These verses and more, give me comfort and remind me of God’s goodness and faithfulness. They bring me peace. They bring me pleasure.
April 7, 2025 at 8:22 am
The word of God gives me pleasure and Hope. Knowing I was redeemed by God’s love and sacrifice is enough for me to be grateful and enjoy the fellowship with Him. My relationship with Jesus is being renewed everyday. The Bible says, we are “transformed” by the renewing of our minds. (Romans 12:2) We must develop the habits of Jesus– our character is essentially the sum of our habits; it is how we habitually act. It’s a privilege to be a child of God. This particular verse, i shared at the end, should be the key to the renewing of our spirit that gives us pleasure as we reflect on God’s word every day.
“Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 NIV)
April 7, 2025 at 5:52 pm
It’s interesting. I have never thought of the word bringing me pleasure. I think of it bringing me hope, comfort, wisdom, encouragement, but I don’t think pleasure would’ve been the first thing that comes to mind. I may find pleasure in singing the Word. I need to begin thinking about it through this lens. Thanks for sharing this perspective.
April 7, 2025 at 8:53 pm
When I first became a believer, I took pleasure spending time in God’s word and in prayer. I would rush home from work to devour scripture and would spend what felt like hours reading and taking delight in his Word. Years since my conversion, that delight, that eagerness to learn has waned. Now I have to discipline myself to spend a set time in the Word, if I get around to doing it at all. So many distractions entice me to waste time in fickle pursuits. I believe where once instincts drove me to spend endless hours in the Word, discipline needs to take its place. And if I disciplined myself to daily study the Word for a set time, that over time the pleasure and delight I once felt will be mine again.