I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
I can count on the fingers of one hand the close friends I have had during my adulthood. I generally have one very good friend at each place to which we have moved, but not all of them were close friends, friends who were there for me no matter what. That’s why I think that number is limited. Sometimes, the friends were Christians and we encouraged each other in our faith. More frequently, they were not Christians, so I shared my faith with them when I could.
No matter our location, I always knew that my best friend was always there with me. Jesus traveled with me from state to state and base to base. He was with me when Harry was deployed and I was feeling overwhelmed and lonely. He was there during hospitalizations, tests and surgeries. He was there when our children were injured or when our car was hit head on in an accident. Note that we had NO serious injuries from a big truck hitting us head on as we drove to our Bible study that night. Baby Hope was safely in her car seat and slept through the whole thing. I had a bruised knee and my husband’s chest was bruised from the seat belt. Our car was totaled, but we were fine. Jesus was there, and we didn’t even have time to send up a prayer of “help”. He was already there.
I want to be a friend like Jesus. I am not omnipresent or omniscient or any of the other qualities that only God has. But I do want to be the kind of friend who will be there when I am called and who will stick with the person who needs me until the situation is resolved. Phone calls in the middle of the night aren’t convenient, but if God can be there for us all the time, I can be there for friends who need me. I look in the mirror and I am sometimes disappointed at how I have let others down. But I repent, ask God for help in the future and determine to do better and be a better friend. I want to have friends who love the Lord, like the ladies in our Bible study group who text frequently to check on each other and offer help when needed. Friendship is a two-way street. Jesus wants a relationship with us, not based on His power that He demonstrates on our behalf, but because of our mutual love for each other. That’s what true friendship is all about, mutual love that surpasses our selfish desires and meets the other person where their need is.
Children learn to function in real life by imitating those around them.
They learn to speak by listening to their family’s words and copying what they hear. They learn to interact with others by observing how their loved ones interact with others. They learn what’s culturally and socially appropriate by watching and imitating.
They learn how to eat, play, read, pray, cook, fish, braid, draw, garden, build, worship, invest, and navigate relationships by noticing and mimicking those around them.
And it doesn’t stop with children. People will often reflect those closest to them, as well as their environment.
Perhaps that’s why, while writing from the confines of a Roman prison, the apostle Paul gave the believers in Ephesus a heartfelt charge:
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
Ephesians 5:1 NLT
Paul knew that loving and reflecting God was foundational. What we observe will get repeated and, eventually, passed along. The fancy word for this concept is discipleship—where we learn from those we trust and teach others what we’ve learned.
Regardless of where we’re at in life, we’re all being discipled by something. That’s why we should carefully consider who we are listening to and following.
It is vital to build our lives on Truth.
It’s already in our God-given makeup to reflect God. But as humans, we still have to intentionally remember who and whose we are, which is the first step in becoming more like Christ.
My Thoughts
If you don’t believe that people are natural imitators, just step into a high school for a day and watch the interactions between the students. One student pokes fun at another and a group joins in. Another student quietly works and those around that student do the same. It works the same in most large groups, particularly when people are just “going along to get along.”
As an introvert, I am not really a joiner, but I am a watcher. And watchers, too, are a group of imitators, but just not overtly. In high school, many decades ago, I joined the groups that were more academically inclined like the newspaper, the yearbook, the literary magazine. Those were my people, the ones I learned from and followed.
In college, I followed the example of peers who were studious because that was part of who I was. My identity had been formed by those I hung around with in high school, so I continued with that pattern in college.
After college, I was feeling kind of lost. I didn’t have any assignments to study or a group to be with. I was a new teacher in an old school, filled with students who were in my classes but who were not friends, not even really acquaintances. The other teachers had been there for a while, knew each other and were jovial colleagues. Thus, I found myself lonely and feeling isolated. That is when I met Verna, the next-door neighbor in my apartment building. She befriended me, told me about Jesus and gave me a new outlook on life in general. I began to follow the example of Christians that I was around in church groups. I discovered that I could be around others who did not swear, smoke or drink a lot of alcohol and feel comfortable and like I fit in. In short, I found a new family in Christ.
I started reading my Bible regularly and from that point on, I wanted to be more like Jesus and less like those in the world. As a new Christian, I didn’t know a lot, but I quickly learned that there were some things I should not do because Jesus would not approve. Around that time and afterwards, there was a movement called WWJD (what would Jesus do). I thought that was a great idea and subconsciously used that mantra to check out my actions, words and relationships. Harry and I were engaged at the time and he really wanted to go to bed together. I told him “no” and avoided those kinds of situations, persuading him that the sexual part of our relationship was for after marriage. So, in a surprising turn of events for our parents, we compromised and got married just three months after we became Christians. We had planned to wait, but Harry didn’t want to wait any longer and I was amenable to that. I kind of, sort of followed my WWJD guidelines there as well as talking to trusted friends and our pastor about where our relationship was headed and what we should do about it.
I am saying all of this to encourage my readers to check out who your friends are, what you watch, what you listen to, even what you read. The people and things you bring into your life are the ones that will influence you. GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) isn’t just for computers, is it? Choosing examples in your life wisely is a way to look for God in them and then to follow His example.
I don’t think any of us has “arrived” yet; that is, no one that I know is a perfect imitator of the Lord. But if we realize that we are all in this life together, all on the same path to the same eternity (with God, hopefully), then we can encourage each other to live according to things that would please our Father and make us indeed His “dear children.”
Understanding the Meaning of Delighting in the Lord*
To delight in the Lord signifies finding deep satisfaction, joy, and purpose in the presence and promises of God. This idea is woven through Scripture, from the praise-filled Psalms to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. It involves an attitude of dependency on God’s character, revering Him as Creator and personal Redeemer. In this frame of mind, acts of worship, prayer, and obedience shift from obligations to joyful privileges, as hearts become anchored in His faithful love.
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
This well-known verse underscores an important principle: when one’s greatest pleasure is God Himself, His desires and ours begin to align, resulting in spiritual fulfillment and contentment.
Biblical Foundations of Delighting in God
Throughout Scripture, the call to delight in God appears repeatedly. In Psalm 1:2, the righteous person is described as one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” This portrait illustrates a continuous dwelling upon God’s truth, an ongoing posture of trust and reverence.
Elsewhere, Jesus articulates that those who remain in Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5). This fruit includes not only acts of love and service, but also the internal, joyous sense of belonging to the One who made and redeemed us. The New Testament consistently reaffirms that to know God, as He has revealed Himself, is to discover a wellspring of delight.
Aligning the Heart with God’s Word
Delighting in the Lord begins with savoring His word. Archaeological discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, unearthed in the mid-20th century near Qumran, show remarkable continuity between ancient manuscripts and modern Biblical texts. The faithfulness with which the Scriptures have been preserved affirms that the passages teaching believers to rejoice in God remain trustworthy. This historical reliability underscores the integrity of instructions such as Psalm 119:16: “I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
From a practical standpoint, reading and reflecting on Scripture fosters transformation of both thought and disposition. In the realm of behavioral science, repeated focus on truth can shift one’s perspective, heightening peace, gratitude, and delight.
Embracing Prayer and Communion with God
Entering consistent, meaningful prayer shapes one to treasure the Lord more deeply. As Philippians 4:6-7 explains, bringing requests to God with thanksgiving leads to “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” guarding hearts and minds. In such communion, the believer increasingly experiences God as a personal Father who listens, cares, and responds.
Woven through history are accounts of people whose prayer practices brought them fresh awareness of God’s presence. Anecdotal testimonies in every century, including those of early Christian writers, Reformation-era believers, and modern-day individuals, highlight an enduring pattern: when people cry out to God earnestly, they often find renewed joy and delight in Him.
Practicing Worship with Body, Mind, and Spirit
Worship in Scripture is not confined to singing-though the Psalms are a timeless testament to the power of music to lift hearts to God. It also includes dedicating work, relationships, and daily activities to the Lord. In Romans 12:1, believers are urged, “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.”
In many cultures, corporate worship through song reinforces unity in delighting in the Lord. Historically, King David’s psalms were not only royal compositions but also living expressions of communal devotion. Artifacts and inscriptions discovered in areas such as the City of David point to structured gatherings where music and praise contributed to a collective delight in Yahweh. Modern worship likewise provides communal support, encouragement, and tangible reminders of God’s majesty.
Cultivating Obedience and Trust
To delight in the Lord means abiding trust, particularly in times of uncertainty. The Bible repeatedly displays individuals who chose obedience, trusting God’s promises even under dire circumstances. Abraham’s willingness to leave his homeland (Genesis 12) and Mary’s acceptance of the angel’s announcement (Luke 1) exemplify trusting God’s plan beyond one’s own understanding.
Geological and historical records that confirm biblical events-from the evidence of a global flood narrative in a variety of ancient cultures, to archaeological data such as the Ebla tablets referencing Semitic peoples-underscore the authenticity of accounts that shape our understanding of God’s engagement in history. When believers see that God has acted faithfully throughout time, obedience becomes a joyful, confident response every day.
Reflecting on God’s Character and Works
Meditating on who God is fuels deeper pleasure in Him. Reflecting on His work in creation-the consistent evidence of intelligent design seen in the vast complexity of DNA or the fine-tuning of universal constants-amplifies wonder at His magnificence. When one pauses to consider that the same God who orchestrated cosmic precision loves with a personal, redeeming love, it invigorates worship.
Similarly, recounting the resurrection of Christ as a historical event affirms that the One in whom we delight is the same God who raised Jesus from the dead in space and time. Such victories over death instill hope and confidence. This hope, confirmed by multiple lines of historical witness in the Gospels and letters, provides a deep wellspring of rejoicing.
Serving and Loving Others in His Name
Delighting in the Lord flourishes when believers extend God’s love to others. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus declares, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” When Christians serve those in need, they tangibly express the joy found in relationship with Christ. This love in action further enriches one’s own delight in Him, fulfilling His command to “love one another” (John 13:34).
Practically, involvement in community service or faith-based outreach can enhance spiritual vitality. Many have attested to profound encounters with the Holy Spirit through caring for the poor, visiting the sick, or inviting those far from God to experience His grace.
Maintaining a Lifelong Perspective of Hope
The Psalmist’s repeated emphasis on remembering God’s past faithfulness fosters a pattern of hope for the future. This hope kindles delight, because it rests on God’s unchanging goodness. In the face of trials, believers return to the truth that God’s promises stand. Romans 8:38-39 affirms that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When doubts arise, many find strength by examining the consistent internal harmony of Scripture, supported by thousands of manuscripts spanning centuries. Similarly, archaeological findings such as the Tel Dan Stele-which corroborates the historical presence of the House of David-reinforce the reliability of biblical narratives. Such evidence reinforces a worldview in which one can securely delight in the everlasting God.
Practical Steps to Daily Delight
1. Spend time consistently in Scripture, reflecting prayerfully on passages that emphasize God’s love, sovereignty, and faithfulness.
2. Engage in regular prayer, both communal and personal, offering thanksgiving as well as requests and confessions.
3. Incorporate worship music, psalms, and hymns into daily routines. Singing truth can recalibrate the heart toward God’s greatness.
4. Serve within your local community, reflecting God’s compassion.
5. Surround yourself with fellow believers who encourage growth in faith and joy.
6. Keep a journal of answered prayers and personal encounters with God to remember His works in your life.
Conclusion
Delighting in the Lord is an invitation to place full confidence in the only One deserving of complete trust. By meditating on Scripture, praying, worshiping, and reflecting on His faithfulness through history, believers can experience genuine joy rooted in a life-giving relationship with God. As Psalm 16:11 proclaims, “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.” This assured promise stands as a lasting source of delight for any who seek Him wholeheartedly
I am marking this post to save and to read over and over again. I don’t know about you, but I need to remind myself of God’s presence and the pleasures that I find there. Life and its trials sometimes get in the way of my encounters with God, but in this season of testing, I am finding that pressing in is the way up and out. Today is Thankful Thursday for me, so here is a partial list of what I am thankful for today. (Partial because I will continue to add to the list as the day progresses.)
~For rest and a new day
~For each breath I take and every fresh scent I have smelled today, especially the tea I made to start the day
~For the cloudy day that reminds me that the sun is just behind the clouds
~For the rain that is soaking Harry’s garden and will produce a nice crop of peas for us
~For the photo frames all around me that remind me of the blessings of having children and grandchildren
~For having books to read and friends to talk to about them
~For my husband who made egg salad for my lunch today
~For fresh water to drink
~For a good report from my nephrologist
~For the love of the Lord who shows me every day how precious I am to Him
~For the birds outside my window who are enjoying the birdseed my husband replenished yesterday
~For hot water for my shower
~For less pain in my right shoulder and for my left arm that is able to work properly
~For friends in our Bible study group who pray for each other and check in on each other
~For a sweet granddaughter who is living with us and keeping us company
~For authors who trust me with their new book babies
~For praise music on my device that I can listen to anytime
~For online friends on WordPress who encourage me and make me ponder
There are an endless number of things to be thankful for today and everyday! Please join me in Thankful Thursday and add a comment about what you are thankful for today.
Worshiping God is one of the most central and basic aspects of the Christian life. God’s people actively worship Him all throughout Scripture. The Bible is filled with songs and poems dedicated to worshiping God.
While we often think of worship as singing songs of praise, worship can be much more than that. Actually, when we limit our worship of God to only singing, we miss out on a vital aspect of the Christian life.
Worship in Scripture is more than just singing. It is rightly thinking about and praising God for who He is and what He has done. Worship happens when we recognize God as God—when we’re in awe of His character and His provisions.
This means that we can worship God at any moment of our day. When we thank God for His kindness, that is worship. When we are in awe of His beauty, that is worship.
In Isaiah 25:1, the prophet Isaiah praises God in this way. Isaiah thanks God for being who He is, for being a very personal God to him. He also worships God for His faithfulness, which is an aspect of God’s character. Lastly, Isaiah praises God for all of the wonderful things He has done.
Isaiah may not have been singing a song at the time, but his words and actions tell us that he was worshiping God for who He is and what He has done. Isaiah was in awe of how great and wonderful God is.
Spend some time today thinking about God. Consider His character, that He is good, faithful, and loving. Think about the things He has blessed you with. Sit for a few minutes in awe of God and simply worship Him.
My Thoughts
I really like that this devotional says that worship is not always singing. I used to sing a lot, like in the car, at church, in my chair as I do my devotional. But then, I got older and my voice changed. When I sing, my voice cracks, and I sound a lot like that old character in “Our Gang” called “Froggy.” So, when I sing now, I silently mouth the words and that way no one around me is bothered by my inability to sing on key. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think my voice bothers God at all; in fact, I am sure that He is used to my out-of-tune warble. But since I don’t want to offend others and I do want to worship with song, I do it silently. So I am very glad that this devo points out that we can worship with our words, just by speaking them.
It’s important to worship to me for two reasons. One, it reminds me of who God is and what He has done. Second, it reminds me that there is One God and I am not Him. I have to take myself off the throne in order to put God in His proper place, so that’s something I try to do every day, sometimes in the shower, sometimes just during daily activities and sometimes just whenever I feel like telling God how much I sincerely appreciate Him. After all, showing God that I know exactly who He is in my life and how much He means to me is what I think true worship is all about.
“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”
Twenty-five years after his father’s unsolved murder, Asa Dutton returns to Hope Island determined to uncover the truth. His only lead is Maya Callahan—the little girl found hiding in the barn the night his father died.
Maya has no memory of that stormy night. But as fragments of her past resurface, so does danger. Someone is watching. Someone who will kill to keep the truth buried.
As Asa and Maya grow closer, the stakes turn deadly. Because remembering the past may be the only way to survive it.
My Thoughts
This is the story of unfinished business in the past and a lost memory that is surfacing. Maya was present when her mother was dragged away and she never saw her again. She was there when the sheriff was killed, Asa Dutton’s father. When Asa comes back to Hope Island to talk to Maya and try to find out information to lead him to his father’s killer, he opens up her memory in unexpected ways. I loved how the Hope Island Securities Team worked with Asa to uncover the truth and to find the killer, following clues to some surprising locations on the island. I especially enjoyed the dynamic characters of Asa and Maya who grew from questioning the past to embracing the future. This is romantic suspense at its best, with a lot of the creep factor in it and a killer who was methodical and hard to catch. The twists and revelations kept coming in this fast-paced and totally engaging book. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Christian Fiction, A clean read
About the Author
Mary Alford grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come naturally to her.
As a teen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.
She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked.
Today, Mary lives in Texas with her husband and loves to create characters who face dangerous situations with faith on their side.
Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook, X, or any of the social media platforms listed at maryalford.net.
I am absolutely not sure where I stand on the issue of the Supreme Court and the tariffs. What I do know is that our republic is still working, with the checks and balances that our Founding Fathers put into the Constitution. Tariffs continue in spite of the ruling, so it must not have turned President Trump’s plans upside down. In fact, he spoke so quickly after the ruling that it seemed to me that he was ready for it and already had a Plan B.
Meanwhile, in the state of Virginia, where the democrats are trying to disenfranchise every conservative voter by gerrymandering in an almost illegal fashion, some counties are refusing to participate in the referendum to vote for their plan since they say it is violates the state constitution. We will see how this pans out, but the democrats are saying the vote is necessary for free and fair elections. Really? One district extends from northern Virginia to the eastern shore in what looks like a large shrimp or lobster shape. The purpose, of course, is to outnumber the conservative voters. What am I doing about it? I am not being fooled and I am voting NO on their obvious attempt to discount our voices. It may end up doing no good since they control everything in the state right now, but I am trying to voice my opinion and let others know what is happening in our state.
You will see Spanberger, the new liberal governor who proclaimed to be moderate in order to get elected, giving the SOTU response. That tells you that she is the next chosen puppet of the Democratic Party, so watch for her to start her race for President as soon as those gates are open. They can’t run AOC because she is a carbon copy of Kamala and her word salad. They would be foolish to run Newsom with his abysmal record in California. So, Spanberger it is, with her policies to change Virginia into California East.
If you want to know where I got the theme of today’s blog, read Denison’s Forum for today. Enlightening and thought provoking. I particularly enjoyed his quotations from our Founding Fathers who seemed to know that later generations would do all they could to make a mess of the government.
Through all of the recent tests, medical visits and frustration of no real resolution, God has been right there beside me. I had a bone scan on Friday. The orthopedist had told me that there was a possibility of a small fracture in my humerus (upper arm bone), so he had recommended a bone scan. The procedure took most of the day since I had to go in, get the injection that lit me up inside, wait three hours, return to the hospital and get the scan done which took about thirty minutes. The tech Debbie was very kind and helpful the whole time, so I was made to feel comfortable and at ease as much as possible. Again, I prayed and sang praise songs to myself as the procedure was being completed. I got the written report yesterday in “My Chart” and attempted to understand it. I didn’t understand much, but it was repeated several times that there was no evidence of bone cancer. I didn’t even know that they were looking for that! But I have no doubt that God did know and had given me peace even before I looked at the report. I return to my orthopedist in a few weeks, after he has time to receive the full report and review it. Meanwhile, I am pressing into God because He is my strength, the One who sustains my life in every way. I don’t always feel well and I hardly ever feel rested these days, but I am grateful for the rest that I have in Him and the confidence that whatever happens, He has not left my side.
I pray for each of you today that you may have the same assurance that I have. I want you to know that God is always the same, regardless of the circumstances in life. His love never changes, His mercy is new every morning and His faithfulness is unending. I am reading in the Old Testament about the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. They whined. He provided. They whined again. He provided. Sometimes there were consequences for their lack of faith, but He still provided. Moses had to intercede for them because at one point God wanted to destroy them completely. We have an intercessor who is always making a case before the Father for us, our Savior, Christ Jesus. Thus, you and I can be certain that God is working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it or feel it. That is what I want you to take away from today’s blog post, that God is right there with you, just as He is with me. He is omnipresent, a characteristic that we finite humans cannot understand. But I don’t have to understand it to know that it is true. God is as close to me here in Virginia as He is to you in California, Michigan, England or Norway. I am so thankful for His calming presence and for His grace and love that sees me through the trials of getting older.
Our world wants us to accept that there are many ways to God, but there is only one way and it is up to us to share that truth with others. We can run to Him and be comforted, but only when we accept with our whole hearts that He is the way to the Father. His sacrifice makes a relationship with the Father possible and our future secure.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 