Victory and Delight in God’s Presence

Posted on October 26, 2024 by

24 Comments

Psalm 21 is a powerful chapter, with each verse manifesting strength. It is believed that the psalm was written after a battle. And the psalm overflows with a victory mindset.

(Note that “the title names David as the author, but then the psalm itself speaks about the king in the third person. The king as song composer could certainly write about his office in the third person, but it is also possible that the psalmist is some second party who speaks about the king” [1]… We will assume David is the author, especially since the Bible gives him credit. Keep in mind that in the verse I share below – “You” is referring to God and “him” is referring to King David.)

You can read Psalm 21 in the New International Version here. If you prefer a different Bible version, you also have the ability to choose the translation on that webpage.

Psalm 21 reminds us of many reasons why we should be filled with praise and gratitude towards God:

  • God brings victory.
  • God hears our prayers and answers our requests.
  • We can trust in the Lord and His unfailing love.
  • The Lord is our strength and the One we can turn to when facing a battle.

While we might not face the kind of battle that David did, we will still face different hardships in life. But Psalm 21 reminds us that God is there with us. He is on our side. When we call out to Him, He hears us. When life is unbelievably hard, it brings true comfort to know we have Someone we can turn to. Someone who is Almighty and can handle anything that comes our way.

This psalm also reminds us of the delight we find in the Lord’s presence. Psalm 21:6 in the NIV says, “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

The NKJV says, “For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.”

And there are several versions that put it this way – “For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.”

David is bubbling over with gratitude as he writes this. David has seen firsthand how much the Lord bestows blessings on His children. And he has seen in his life how the Lord’s presence leaves an impact.

Even in the midst of a difficulty, as we are waiting to see our victory, we can still seek the Lord and find cheer in His presence. His presence truly is a gift.

In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “God invites us to ask him for the things we need and the desires of our heart. But only his presence brings lasting joy. The deepest delights are found in him, not in anything this world has to offer.”

When reading about David in the Bible, we can see how he always had his eyes and heart fixed on the Lord. His relationship with God was a vital part of his life. This means that when he faced a difficulty, trusting in God came easily. And when he saw victory, praising God was second-nature. I pray we all have a heart that is fixed on the Lord.

And when we are seeking a victory, I pray we remember to turn to Almighty God and His presence. He loves us and wants to help us with everything we face. He is always working on our behalf. Some days are really hard, but as we cling to Him, He will lift us up. He will be there and His presence will fill us with joy and cheer. He delights in us, as we delight in Him.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. I know time is precious, and I don’t take it lightly that you have taken the time to read my post. You all are in my prayers. And if you have any specific prayer requests, please let me know. And thank you all for the prayers you have lifted for my family. They are truly appreciated. God bless you!

October 19, 2024

[1] – Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary. © 2014 by Tremper Longman III

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

Category: Seeking God

24 Comments on “Victory and Delight in God’s Presence”

  1. what a confirming blessing your Bible study of Psalm 21 is to me today! 😊 It is nice to know that I am on the right path with our Father in recent difficult days. God bless you and your family richly today sister Bridget 🙏

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  2. A really lovely Psalm. To rejoice in the Lord’s strength. To have a heart fixed on Him and to know that He is always working on our behalf – such strengthening reminders to hold onto when we go through challenging times.
    His bless you my friend 💙

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    • So true! When we face trials in life, it can be so difficult. But if we remind ourselves of truth and remind ourselves of times when the Lord has come through for us, it helps to strengthen us. I’m so grateful Jesus is always there! What a gift. Thank you, Manu! God bless you and your family! 🫶🏻

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  3. I like Psalm 21, as well, especially the last verse. The Psalmist finally stops talking, presumably about himself, and gives God the glory.
    Of course, it was the Lord who said David was a man after His own heart. But I can’t help but wonder if folks in the synagogue inwardly rolled their eyes when they sang about how great and wonderful and highly favored the king was.

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    • LOL, I hadn’t thought about that. 😂 Such a good point. Sometimes when I read the psalms, I read them as a prayer. This one was a little more difficult, changing the third person. 😅 But still a good reminder that the battle belongs to the Lord.

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  4. I remind myself that while we are not in a physical fight like David was, we are in a spiritual battle that hasn’t changed from the beginning. I’m only learning to recognize not only the beauty of gratitude but the unimaginable power.

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    • So true! Regarding the spiritual battle – I know this, yet I don’t always remember it in the moment. If we can remember it’s a spiritual battle, it helps us to approach our difficulties in a different way. And thank you for the reminder of how powerful gratitude is too. The enemy will try to discourage us, which means things like gratitude and praise don’t persist. We need to encourage ourselves in the Lord, as David did in 1 Sam 30:6. Thank you, Judy. Your comment reminded me of some important truths that I need to hang onto! ♥️🤗

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  5. Thank you for sharing such encouraging thoughts about Psalm 21. While my challenges may not mirror David’s battles, I still find comfort in the reminders of God’s strength and presence. It’s reassuring to know that, even in overwhelming times, we have someone to turn to who hears our prayers and offers us joy.

    Thank you for your prayers; I truly need them. I’m facing health challenges, worries about my job, and the struggles of my wife and boys not being saved yet. There are also the trials, fears, insecurities, and self-doubt that just keep piling up. But I hold on to the truth that God is with me and will never forsake me. I’ll keep you in my prayers too.

    Be Blessed and Continue to be a Blessing.

    Let’s Grow with Christ together.

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    • Willie, I’m really sorry to hear all that. And it’s always worse when we have multiple trials coming against at once. But thank you for sharing, as I will definitely keep praying, and pray more specifically for the worries you are facing. The enemy will try to discourage you, but I pray you keep your focus on Jesus. Thanks to Him, we always have hope. God bless you!

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  6. We overcomers along with Jesus when we put our faith in Him and not ourselves. Being in His presence consistently and intentionally brings delight to us and Him, even in trials. Thanks for sharing, Bridget! ❤️

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    • Yes! I love that you pointed out “when we put our faith in Him and not ourselves.” I think when we are facing a battle, we default to trying to fix things in our own strength. We need to remind ourselves to turn to Him. And I also appreciate that you pointed out we have to be consistent and intentional about being in His presence. Too often, this world and our daily lives keep us busy and distracted. But we can get there with His help. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Summer! ♥️

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  7. Hi Bridget. I realized I missed your post but grateful I saw it today. I needed the encouragement that in difficult times we keep trusting God. He will see us through to victory. His presence alone does bring victory. Yesterday, I received disappointing news that I didn’t pass a certification exam I’ve been studying for related to work but I have found victory in knowing God is with me as I continue on in the process. He has a way of working things out in His timing. Have a blessed week 💕

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    • Hi Dawn! I’m so sorry about the exam. I will be praying for you as you move forward in this path. It sounds stressful. But I’m so glad God brought you encouragement when you needed it. We don’t always understand His ways and His timing, but what comfort it is to know we can trust Him through it all. What a gift He is to us! Thank you, Dawn. And I hope your Friday and weekend are blessed as well. ♥️

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    • I like doing that as well. (And it helps me stayed focused! 😅) The Psalms help me start the day with praise and a proper attitude. Thanks for stopping by, big brother!

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    • I understand. The psalms weren’t alway one of my favorite books. I preferred the books that had good stories because they kept my attention. But when we went through the pandemic, that’s when I really found so much peace and joy in the Psalms. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. ♥️🤗

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