Psalms 16:3-4 (NKJV)

‘As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god…’

Here is God’s confession concerning His Saints: ‘they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight’. What a confession by God. These were not the confessions of David because he was quoting someone in that verse. While I may beat up my head and feel like a total failure or loser, God says to me, ‘you are excellent’. This must be one of the most cherished verses for me in this season. It’s a reminder: ‘I am cherished because of what Christ has done to me. I am special indeed.’ My sorrow remains and is multiplied once I start chasing after other gods; once I start placing other things, people and priorities before God. It doesn’t reduce God but it will increase my sorrow, as those things will take me away from my cherished relationship with the Lord.

God delights in me. God loves me. God has accepted me in Christ. I am precious to God. He knows I am but frail humanity yet He says, ‘I delight in you’. Fight off the evil thought that constantly condemns you. Fight it off. Fight off those judging darts that keep you crouching and battered. Silence those voices that keep telling you that you are rejected and unloved. These are voices from hell. Repeat to yourself the words of Jesus on the cross: ‘It is finished’. Old things are passed away. God loves and cherishes the new you. Hallelujah. Say no therefore to every enticing god that seeks to steal this great blessing away from me.

‘Lord, it’s so wonderful experiencing the benefits of the cross. The total acceptance by the Most High is a rare privilege reserved for the blessed few who have come under the power of the cross. I belong to that group of privileged saints and I must relish and enjoy this position. Stop judging yourself. Believe you are loved and accepted in the Beloved. Period. Thank you, Lord, for this unquantifiable gift. Amen.’