Delight Yourself in the Lord
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of resigning ourselves to God to experience true peace and contentment in life.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that true peace and contentment come from fully resigning ourselves into God's hands, regardless of our circumstances. He highlights Psalm 37:4, which encourages us to delight in the Lord, assuring us that He will fulfill our heart's desires. By trusting in God's care, we can face hardships without fear or anxiety, much like sheep trust their shepherd. Wilkerson shares his personal journey of learning to trust God one problem at a time, stressing that genuine resignation to God should be a proactive choice rather than a last resort. Ultimately, he calls for a faith that mirrors Abraham's, offering our lives to God as a blank check for Him to fill in.
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Our peace and contentment always depend upon our resignation into God's hands, no matter what our circumstance. The psalmist writes, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).
If you've fully resigned yourself into God's hands, then you're able to endure any and all hardships. Your Father's desire is for you to be able to go about your daily business without fear or anxiety, totally trusting in his care. And your resignation to him has a very practical effect in your life. The more resigned you are to God's care and keeping, the more indifferent you'll be to the conditions around you.
If you are resigned to him, you won't constantly be trying to figure out the next step. You won't be scared by the frightful news swirling around you. You won't be overwhelmed as you think about the days ahead because you've entrusted you life, family and future into your Lord's safe and loving hands.
How worried or concerned do you think sheep are as they follow their shepherd? They are not worried at all, because they're totally resigned to his leading them. Likewise, we are the sheep of Christ, who is our great Shepherd. So, why should we ever be concerned, disquieted or worried about our lives and futures? He knows perfectly how to protect and preserve his flock because he leads us in love!
In my own life, I've had to learn to trust God one problem at a time. Think about it: How can I say I trust God with everything, if I haven't proven I can trust him with just one thing? Merely saying the words, "I trust the Lord completely," isn't sufficient. I have to prove this over and over again in my life, in many areas and in everyday things.
Many people living today have said, "I resign, I commit, I trust," only after they say there was no other way out of their situation. But true resignation, the kind that pleases God, is done freely and willingly, prior to our coming to wit's end. We are to act in agreement with the Lord, as Abraham did, giving God his life as a blank check, and letting the Lord fill it all in.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding Resignation to God
- The Importance of Trusting God
- The Role of Peace in Our Lives
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II
- The Example of Sheep and Shepherd
- Living Without Worry
- God's Care for His Flock
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III
- Proving Trust in God
- The Nature of True Resignation
- Acting in Agreement with God
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IV
- The Practical Effects of Resignation
- Daily Trust in God's Plan
- Living Indifferent to Circumstances
Key Quotes
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” — David Wilkerson
“The more resigned you are to God's care and keeping, the more indifferent you'll be to the conditions around you.” — David Wilkerson
“True resignation, the kind that pleases God, is done freely and willingly, prior to our coming to wit's end.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Practice daily surrender by entrusting specific concerns to God.
- Reflect on the ways God has proven His faithfulness in your life.
- Cultivate an attitude of trust by focusing on God's promises rather than your circumstances.