Introduction and Ice Breaker
What does delighting in God mean to you?
What is something from this summer that has brought you joy?
Themes to Consider
Rest
Gratitude
Worship
Service
Discussion Questions
How does our culture and world condition us to seek delight?
What do you think about the Scriptures giving directives to our emotions?
What things do you fret over, that may be stealing opportunity for delight?
What are some of your most meaningful experiences with rest, gratitude, worship and service for cultivating delight in God?
Guided Prayer
Silence / Remove distractions as much as you can and spend two minutes (time it, if helpful) in silence, noticing your body, your emotions and thoughts. Perhaps use a simple phrase to pray silently so that you stay focused.
Psalm 32:11 (ESV): 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Adoration / Psalm 33:1–3 (ESV): Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Describe to God his greatness And ability to remain our hope. Who is near.
Confession / Confess where you struggle to find joy. Name the obstacles or thieves of joy and delight in God. Confess things other than God in which you seek delight.
Thanksgiving / Find things to name that you can be grateful for. Find dimensions of even your struggles and hardships that you may recognize the grace of God in.
Supplication / Pray for God to help you by His spirit to cultivate gratitude in you. Pray for your world, connections, relationships for them to find joy and delight in God. Pray
Silence / End with two minutes of silence and write down what you feel like God is saying to you today.
Supplemental Content
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37
You are valuable because you are made in God’s image and Sabbath is how you delight in God, in your neighbor, and this good world He has made. —Caleb Clardy
This is an act of the will. Instead of waiting until I feel like it (which could be a very long wait, indeed), I begin to thank God for all the evidence of his love in my life - often speaking out loud - until my feelings fall into line with the facts. Sometimes this can seem a bit fake at first, but that’s okay. And occasionally, I continue to feel tired, sad, or lethargic, and that’s okay too. —Pete Grieg, How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People
Worship is getting to place of ongoing surrender to God. —Caleb Clardy
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12 v 1-2
