Delighted in & Fought for

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness [take great delight in you]; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17 

What security and peaceful contentment come from knowing I am delighted in and fought for by the God who created me. He is WITH me. He FIGHTS FOR ME as a Mighty Warrior. He DELIGHTS in me. These three Truths about God are not contingent on what I do for Him or how close I think I can inch toward the standard of perfection. They are a part of who God is, separate from who I am. He does those things for me and thinks those things about me regardless of my actions and thoughts. It's not a fair trade; that's what His grace and mercy are all about! Undeserved gifts that are only from Him. In His sovereignty and omniscience He planned for my complete weakness, which He compensates for with His perfect strength. 

Last night at a Bible study with students from RUDN we talked about the transforming process of dying to our old selves (sin) and being resurrected with Christ as a NEW creation (turning away from sin). This is an important truth to understand as a part of deciding to follow Jesus for the first time, but also for choosing to follow Him and walk in truth every single day. 

How often do I fall back into my old self of working hard for love, acceptance, approval, and "good standing" with God? I hate to disappoint. I take on the responsibility of other people's emotions. Instead of resting in the arms of my Heavenly Father, I try to fight in my own strength. I wrestle with feelings of loneliness, all the while God whispers over and over again I am with you; don't be afraid. 

Even if you have been following Jesus for a long time, heaven forbid we lose sight of these foundational truths of our identity in Christ. Paul writes to the Galatians in chapter five, verse one: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." I am a NEW creation! There is freedom in walking with Jesus every day and remembering that HE is with me, HE fights for me, and HE delights in me... and there's nothing I can do to earn that.

"Yet I am always with You;

You hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward You will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And Earth has nothing I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart may fail, 

but God is the strength of my heart 

and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:23-26