Turkish Delight

I've never eaten Turkish Delight, but according to a little bit of research, it's a candy, dessert type deal that was originated by a dude named Bekir Effendi in the late 1700s.  It can be made up of several things, mainly a type of gelatin that has different fruits, nuts, and sweeteners in them.  It eventually became a dessert for royalty throughout Europe. 

I've never tried it.  Some people have told me it's great.  Others have told me it's terrible.  In C.S. Lewis' masterpiece The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, turkish delight was offered to one of the children in order to distract them from what they truly needed to be focused on.  It was his downfall.  When we delight in things that aren't meant for us to delight in, we get in trouble spiritually, socially, and materialistically. 

Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." 

This is a powerful verse from King David.  He knew what it was like to allow himself to delight in things outside of God's will.  I'm pretty sure he didn't wake up one day and just decide to become an adulterer and murderer.  Wrong delights are dangerous.  

God promises to give us our desires if they match up with His desires.  If we "delight" in Him, our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies are consistently focused on the will of God in any and every situation.  


Where does your mind take you?  Do you allow yourself to stay wherever that is if it's not God's will?  


Romans 13:14, "Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires."


Temptations are going to come.  Everyone gets the "Turkish delight" thrown in front of us from time to time.  Will you allow yourself to focus and dwell on that or turn towards Christ?


A few suggestions to "delight in the Lord:"

• Read the Bible often.  If you've never read the Bible consistently before, start with the gospel of John.  Philippians is good too.  Check out www.youversion.com and sign up for a Bible reading plan.  Something as simple as a verse a day can really give you something to hold on to and think about as you encounter life.
• Watch a sunrise and/or sunset.
• Spend some time in nature.  Mountains, oceans, forests, vast plains...God created all this.  It's amazing!  Soak it in.
• Find somewhere/someone you can serve.  Check out a local nursing home, hospital, homeless shelter...somewhere you can put others first.

God loves you.  Delight in Him.  Stay strong.