How Delighting In the Lord will Bless Your Heart Today

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What’s your heart’s desire?

David wrote:

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.”

Psalm 37:4

I used to really struggle with that verse . . . especially during a season when God was not giving me what I believed to be my heart’s desire.

I had faith. I was a pastor’s wife. I taught at a parochial school and led Bible classes. I read my Bible and prayed. I thought I was delighting in Him and yet, God seemed to be saying “no”.

Wow, was I wrong! You see, I wasn’t really “delighting in the Lord.” I wasn’t finding my joy in Him. I was simply trying to win His approval by “doing it right.”

My list was more about me than it was about the Lord.

Another thing I learned was that I wasn’t putting the above verse in context. I was neglecting the words that followed.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.

Psalm 37:5

When you and I “take delight in the Lord” we experience great pleasure and joy in His presence. (LAB Notes) And His presence makes it possible for us to trust Him completely and willingly commit everything in our lives to Him.

That means . . . our families, careers, friendships, homes, and possessions. It means surrendering our all to God’s control and direction.

And that takes big trust, doesn’t it! It means SEEKing Him and His will above everything and anything else in our lives. It means trusting Him because we know Him and love Him.

Do you know what else I’ve realized?

He has always helped me and as I’ve sought Him and committed my heart to Him the more I’ve seen Him at work in me and around me.

In fact, this is the note I wrote in my Bible next to those verses in Psalm 37:

When I delight in the Lord, KNOWing and TRUSTing Him IS my heart’s desire.

His good news is that when you and I “delight in the Lord,” we also receive blessings that are listed as synonyms of “delight.” When you and I delight in Him, He gives us contentment, joy, satisfaction, happiness. He also gives us peace, patience, faithfulness, and so much more.

I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds like the realization of some really great heart desires.

So, let’s go to the Lord today and ask Him to work in our hearts that might make Him our delight and our heart’s desire.

A Prayer to Delight in the Lord

Lord, I pray that knowing and trusting You will be the desire of my heart. I realize that it’s so tempting for me to be short-sighted . . . to look for satisfaction in the temporary rather than the eternal. Your Word reminds me to “set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) You want me to have heavenly priorities because You know that those are the things that will bless me forever.

Please help me find my contentment and satisfaction in You. May it be said of me that I “take delight in You.” May I SEEK what You desire and hide my heart in Your loving care. Please give me the perspective You want me to have. Help me remember that in the world and in my life—You are in control. I can commit myself to You because I believe You are my peace today and my hope for the future. And with Your Spirit’s help, I will completely trust You with my family, my career, my friends, and my life.

I surrender myself to You. Please give me everything I need to accomplish Your will and live for Your glory. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

So, let me ask you…

What is your heart’s desire?

I imagine I’ve given you a lot to think about.

Up ’til now, you may have thought your heart’s desire was to have a child, to be married, for your prodigal to return, for restored health, or some other thing completely unique to you. And I’m not saying God has not given you those longings or that He doesn’t want them for you.

What I am saying is that David’s words are not a promise that the more you read your Bible, serve at church, or do good things for the kingdom or anything else . . . God “owes” you a positive outcome.

God knows what’s best! He loves you and cares about you more than you can imagine. He loves you so much He wants to spend eternity with you . . . so much He died for you.

Take delight in the Lord and see what He begins to do in your heart and your life one day at a time.

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