This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Get Out of Your Head" by Jennie Allen. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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What does it mean to take delight in the Lord? How can taking delight in the Lord improve your mental well-being?
The cure for cynicism and negativity is to learn to take delight in the Lord and his goodness. You implement this strategy by cultivating awe and appreciation of beauty.
Keep reading to find out what it means to take delight in the Lord, and how you can do it.
Take Delight in the Lord
When you take delight in the Lord, you meditate on the truth that all beauty speaks of God’s own beauty, power, and goodness. It speaks of a world yet to come, a world beyond this one, a world more spectacular than you can imagine, but that you’ll one day see and know and enjoy fully.
There are various ways of practicing this. One is to seek out beauty and grandeur in nature, art, and human relationships.
Examples in nature might include snowy mountain peaks, sunsets, scenic vistas, seashells, thunderstorms, beautiful animals, the intricate structure of the human body, or whatever moves you personally. As Psalm 19:1 famously proclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” The author used this approach once in college when she led a Bible study for fellow college sophomores and noticed that they were all discouraged and exhausted. She scrapped her prepared lesson, went outside, and brought back a leaf from a tree. Then she instructed her friends to pass it around and examine it closely to note God’s careful design.
Examples in art could include a beautiful song, painting, film, or play, or the sight of beautiful architecture, such as a lovely old church with stained-glass windows. The author describes her first time attending a professional stage musical with her husband in her early twenties. It was Les Misérables, and it overwhelmed her to the point of tears with its beauty. The experience amplified her ability to appreciate God.
Examples in human relationships might be the simple delight of watching your children play or the sense of being deeply moved by acts of human kindness.
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Like what you just read? Read the rest of the world's best book summary and analysis of Jennie Allen's "Get Out of Your Head" at Shortform .
Here's what you'll find in our full Get Out of Your Head summary :
- Satan’s master plan for poisoning your mind with toxic thoughts
- How to replace ungodly lies with scriptural truths
- How to “put on the mind of Christ” and fulfill God’s plan for you
