The Desires of Your Heart
READ Psalm 37:1-8
1Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and [cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing
You may have heard God's promise to give you "the desires of your heart." But too quick a glance at Psalm 37:4 will lead only to frustration and disappointment. To understand the scope of God's awesome promise, we must explore the conditions He placed around this passage.
First, Psalm 37:1-2 tells us not to fret about or envy "evildoers." In other words, we shouldn't be consumed with the success of unrighteous people. God will deal with them. Your responsibility is to watch your own actions.
Next, verse three instructs us to "trust in the LORD," "do good," and "cultivate faithfulness." God is interested in our maturity. He wants to be able to trust us with life's major decisions, which usually relate to our deepest desires.
In verse four, we are clearly told to "delight… in the LORD." We should seek His desires. If we truly pursue God's good pleasure, our desires will fall right into place.
Then, verse five commands us to "commit [our] way to the LORD" and trust Him. When we focus our steps on His path, we know we're heading in the right direction. God will not bless our sinful missteps. Our duty is to keep to His purposeful plan.
Finally, verse seven calls us to "rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him." Remember, God's timing is perfect. If we see no immediate response to a faithful prayer, we must trust Him enough to wait on His flawless timing.
Are you frustrated by God's response to your desires? Pray through Psalm 37:1-8. Then, ask the Lord to bring your will perfectly in line with His.
