Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. –Psalm 37:4

To be in Christ is more than wearing a name. It is the daily infusion of the Savior into every sphere of my being. More territory is discovered daily upon which Christ lays hold, and I so delight in His Presence.

He has given me everything I need and more. He has also taught me how to dream, learn to deal with lost dreams, retool, and begin a new dream.

Because He is rich in mercy and has revived my sweet dreams, I delight in Him more.

It is a beautiful cycle of dependency upon His promises, provision and passtimes; that is, what I get to do when I am in a Sabbath rest – whether a 24-hour period or broken up throughout the week – that I may lean more into His restful arms.

Without rest, it is easier to make mistakes, fall into misperceptions and miss the Holy Spirit’s quiet voice of reason and grace. But because of His Rich Mercies, life is created daily and wisdom is gained.

Have you ever made a mistake with the best of intentions only later to realize you could have done better?

There is a scene from the movie, Dan in Real Life (@daninreallife): Dan-“I have made so many mistakes…”, Dan’s Father-“Soooo many mistakes,” Dan’s Mother-“Go unmake them…”

A four-year widower, having married the love of his life, Dan found himself single-parenting three girls of different temperaments and experiences. He was overstretched, but committed. He was close to his extended family emotionally, but far in proximity, intensifying the stress which led to his Waterloo during the annual family vacation.

After humbling himself to his girls, he also apologizes to the newly found woman of his dreams, Marie, on that particular vacation.

In his weariness, he was guided by misperceptions on every side, slipping into traps, often slap-stick in nature.

By the end of the movie, the penitent parental-advice columnist, Dan, has reconnected with his three daughters. He ran over them emotionally accidentally, though his intentions were the best from his windshield’s view.

The last scene in the movie finds Dan and his girls searching for Marie who left because she felt confused over her love for Dan, which happened very quickly. When Dan and the girls meet up with Marie, he admits his foolishness to her. She gladly takes him as her husband, as his authenticity is all she ever wanted.

As the credits roll, you see Dan and Marie’s marriage, and a peace that made all of the hurt disappear.

It’s the same with God. He desires authenticity that His Grace might rule more kindly towards me and those who live in my world. He longs to buffer us from pain, as well as be the balm that heals all wounds.

When Grace rules, Christ is always there helping me renew my mind daily. He teaches me how to rely on Him more deeply. And relying on Him creates rest, elbow room, joy, creativity and openness where dreams may find their way to fulfillment – or revived if they have taken a downward turn.

I am amazed at God’s resurrection power, not only through the resurrected Jesus, but the small resurrections He creates in my life, reviving hopes and dreams that His Kingdom may spread more into every sector of planet earth, starting with mine.

Amazing!