Enjoying Jesus

I love my family. My husband is incredible. My daughters are overflowing with I-can’t-stand-it cuteness. They are by far my favorite people to spend time with. We laugh together, we are silly together, snuggle together, we talk A LOT together, encourage one another, exhort one another, and when necessary, correct one another. I enjoy being with them. They make my heart glad. But I confess that there are times I get busy “doing” for my family and I forget to slow down and simply enjoy them during the day. As a wife and mom it’s easy to do, isn’t it? It’s the whole Martha-Mary issue.

Early on in my relationship with the Lord, I remember praying and specifically asking God to allow me to continually enjoy Jesus.

Yes, I have committed myself to obeying and following Him (I’m not suggesting affections without obedience). Jesus Himself clearly declares that our obedience is what proves our love for Him, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. And I do love Him, I seek to honor Him in all that I do (of course I often stumble and fall, but my heart’s deepest bent is for His glory). However, I also know that it is easy to become so busy serving and “obeying” that we lose our simple enjoyment of Him. And that is a dangerous place to be. Jesus sharply rebuked the church in Ephesus because they had left their “first love” (Rev. 2:4). Jesus wants to be enjoyed – because He’s enjoyable.

So, how do we continue (or return to) enjoying our First Love? How can our soul sing out in unison with the Psalmist’s heart when he calls the Lord his “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4)? How can we strip off the tendency to become so busy and caught up with other things that it strangles out our simple and fulfilling enjoyment of our Savior?

To enjoy something, or in this case, Someone, we must spend time with him (just like me with my family). To build and nurture any relationship, it takes time. The more time invested in a person, the deeper the relationship will become. It’s pretty simple really.

Jesus is enjoyable…really enjoyable. Take my word for it; I’ve been blessed to discover this amazing Gift. The more time spent with Him, the more desirable and enjoyable we discover Him to be! In John 1:14 it is revealed that Jesus is the Word. So, spending time in God’s Word (or: with Jesus) is the best way to get to know Him, grow deeper in our relationship with Him, and in doing so we can find the blessed gift of simply enjoying Jesus.

In keeping in mind that Jesus is the Word, and the Word of God is also referred to as precepts, law, commandments, and testimonies throughout Scripture, let’s try this: replace these words with His Name [JESUS] in the following verses and discover what (or Who) is the Psalmist's delight, and then allow that to be our prayer as we seek to enjoy Jesus more:

“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” Psalm 119:24

“May Your compassion come to me that I may live, for Your law is my delight.” Psalm 119:77

“Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight.” Psalm 119:143

“I long for your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.” Psalm 119:174

I have often said that I love God’s Word because I love the God I find in the Word.

The Father Himself has made known where the delight of His soul is found, “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in Whom my soul delights…” Isaiah 42:1. If our God and Father in heaven finds delight and enjoyment in Someone, we certainly can and ought to in that Person too!

What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. –Westminster Shorter Catechism

Oh, that we would lay down our burdens, our "doings," and our worries and remember to simply enjoy Jesus.

Will you choose to enjoy Him today?