Delight, Desires, and a Divine Promise

Delight in the Lord

In Psalm 37 David promised, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is a verse many of us love. It gives us hope, especially when difficulties and disappointments pile up in life. It’s been one of my favorites for many years, and today as I type this article, I’m experiencing its truth. I’m actually sitting in a resort on a beach in Hawaii. (Crazy!) I don’t write this article to flaunt this blessing but to testify of the faithfulness, the goodness, and the truth of God and his promises. He does give us the desires of our hearts, even the less than eternal ones. Though God is not a “formula” God, this verse does hold a secret to releasing its promise. That secret is “delighting” in the Lord.

Delight in the Lord

When I think of delighting in the Lord, I think of worshiping him. I think of intentionally turning on my favorite worship playlist or Christian radio station. My worship involves getting outside and watching the sunrise or sunset, or writing prayers of praise and thanksgiving in my journal. Though all these things do help me delight, have great joy, in the Lord, the ancient meaning of this word provides what this verb really means.

awnag: A primitive root; to be soft or pliable . . .

Strong H6026

Applying these initial definitions, we could rephrase this verse as ,”Let your hearts be soft and pliable in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Pretty powerful isn’t it? No formula can make our hearts soft and pliable in the Lord. This only comes with time, trusting in his faithfulness and wisdom, and committing our lives to him. Perhaps that’s why David follows the promise of verse 4 with the next directive:

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5

Delight in the Lord

Commitment, Trust, and Delight

Commitment and trust involve releasing our dreams and desires. We can’t fully delight in the Lord until we release our deepest desires to his goodness, perfect timing and wisdom. His vision. When we don’t get what we want when we want it, we find ourselves disappointed in God. I know, because I confess my own disappointment. But my friends, oh my friends, don’t stay disappointed. Go to prayer. Ask for a soft and pliable heart. Ask for a heart that trusts God’s goodness above everything else in this world. What this world offers is temporary. I am so blessed to be experiencing one of my heart’s desires to visit Hawaii, but you want to know a secret? I’m looking forward to going home!

He knows what we need and when we need it. He alone holds time in his hands and when it’s best for us to experience our heart’s desires. Honestly, he knows our desires better than we do. Sometimes we think we want something, but he knows better and loves us enough to give us something better at just the right time.

Delight in the Lord

Let Go and Wait

What heart desire are you holding onto? What dream has not come to fruition? What disappointment weighs heavy in your heart? Can you release them into the hands of the One who knows your heart’s desires better than you, the One who sees through eternal eyes? Once we let go of our dreams, David tells us what to do. He says to wait.

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him; 

Psalm 37:7

This is not only a command, but I read it as a promise.

The Divine Promises of God

His promises have no time limit–no expiration date. Release your timetable to him. The best way to do this is to focus on the things he has done. Make thankfulness for your blessings your mantra. And when one of those desires of your heart finally comes to fruition, you will be even more grateful and humbled as you experience the faithfulness of God.

I am a witness. I testify of the sweet kindness and faithfulness of the Lord. I know many reading this article could also testify of his goodness. He is worthy of our full surrender, worship, and trust. Delight yourself, let your heart become soft and pliable to the Lord by trusting in him, and he will give you the desires of your heart, even a desire to go to Hawaii.

 

Andy Lee

Andy Lee is an event speaker, blogger, YouTuber, and award winning author of three books, A Mary Like Me: Flawed yet Called; The Book of Ruth Key-Word Bible Study: 31 Days to Hope and Promise,and Radiant Influence: How an ordinary girl changed the world.She passionately teaches how to find the life in God's Word in order to live abundantly. You can catch her life giving message weekly on Instagram and YouTube. She also provides monthly Bible reading plans on her website www.wordsbyandylee.com.

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