Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Desire (01/17/05)
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TITLE: The Desires of my Heart | Previous Challenge Entry
By Katrina Larson
01/24/05 -
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There was a time in my life when living the Christian lifestyle I’d been “trained up” to live didn’t seem so attractive. My desires were earthly and sensual; I’d had little experience with truly spiritual or Godly thrills. In fact, the latter statement would have been a complete oxymoron in my vocabulary. Later, after having gone through a few crises requiring some soul searching, I happened upon the verse “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4). At first glance, my self-absorbed soul drank in the second half of the verse. My heart’s desires were for peace in my newlywed home. This seemed a worthy prayer and a legitimate desire that the Lord would surely want to fulfill for me. I was seeking God on a new personal level, but the first part of the verse – “Delight yourself in the Lord…” was still beyond my grasp.
I have come to notice that this verse, like so many, is a command statement with a promise attached. Delighting in God is not an option if I choose to live a Christian life. And if I do, he will give me the desires of my heart. So how exactly does one delight in the Lord? Some obvious ways might include enjoying his creation – a walk in the woods on a beautiful day, an evening at the shore watching a sunset. I now delight in contemporary praise music that lifts my spirit with catchy tunes and soul filling lyrics. But what about the times when delight seems impossible? A few years ago my family flew from our various homes around the globe to be at my father’s side as he lay in a coma before soul wrenching decisions on life support could be made. Where could delight be found then? We knew God was with us but our earnest prayers desiring my father’s healing were being met with what seemed like miniscule answers. We were barely getting through one day at a time – one more conversation with a neurologist, one more hearing in front of a judge regarding my dad’s living will. And yet we are commanded to “delight” in the Lord. Clearly, delighting in the Lord must sometimes be a conscious decision. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We are to give thanks in all circumstances. Therefore, even if we don’t feel delight, we can -and should - utter thanks to God. Thus, we speak our delight into being through faith. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” [Italics mine]. God truly desires good for us, but we must make the effort to delight in him through our trials. Jesus clearly told his disciples, and all of us, that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We will only experience the fullest portion of God’s blessings in Heaven. Therefore, if our only desires are earthly, we will never see the glimpses of our heavenly treasure that awaits us. God has so much for us, and if we delight in him – then he can give us the desires of our hearts!
Now we can understand the double meaning in this rich verse of scripture. If we allow him, God will “give us the desires”, heavenly desires. As our faith matures and we learn how to delight in him, the desires of our hearts will change to match his perfect will for us. King Solomon knew this truth when he asked God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people…”
God replied, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, [or] for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge…therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor…” (2 Chronicles 1:10-12) God is faithful. When we put our trust in him and make him our delight, blessings untold will abound. We don’t know whether we’ll see the treasure in this life or only in heaven, but it will absolutely match or even exceed our heart’s desires.
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He will change the desires of our heart to match His will and plan for each of us as we seek his face in commuion with Him