Psalm 37:4

4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

One of the truest and most sobering tests of our faith is to apply this verse to our lives.  First, Beloved, let us all ask ourselves this question; “what are the desires of thy heart?”  The answers that you give will reveal much about the condition of your heart, because it will expose where your true delight is found.  We are told to take delight in the Lord, and then the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts.  But why is delight in the Lord foundational to the fulfillment of this promise?  Well, very simply, the desires of the heart of a man or woman who’s delight in is the Lord look far different than the desires of the heart of a man or woman who’s delight is in the flesh.  What are the desires of the fleshly minded man or woman?  Money, power, clout, stature, possessions, leisure, pride, selfishness, and every lust of the flesh.  Is it God’s will to grant men these things?  May it never be!  But many professing Christians not only live as if it is God’s will to grant them these carnal desires, they teach others the same.  How many times have we heard that God wants us to be wealthy, healthy, powerful, prominent, and living life with an abundance of possessions and leisure.  But this gives rise to a very important question, and one that will expose the desires of our hearts this day.  Does a true Christian desire these carnal things above all?  Very simply put, the answer is “no”.  The man or woman who’s delight is in the Lord has been transformed from a heart full of carnal delights to delights in the things that God delights in, and much more than this…a delight in God Himself.  The true Christian delights in truth, selflessness, humility, love, grace, peace, self-control, and mercy.  More than this, we delight, not in what this world offers, but in the incredible knowledge of God Himself.  We delight in His beauty, power, majesty, grace and benignity.  Also, notice that Psalm 37:4 does not promise us that God will gratify all the appetites of our bodies and the whims of our own fleshly desires, God promises to grant us all the desires of the renewed and sanctified heart, and all the cravings of the sanctified soul.  Obedience, surrender, trust and faith.  These are the desires of a Godly man.  When all is said and considered, the most basic desire of the heart of a man or woman who delights in the Lord is to know, love, live for God, to please him and to be pleased in him.  The considerations of the flesh pale in comparison to the joy of the delight we have in our Heavenly Father.  Let us all find our delight in Him and in Him alone this day.  To love what He loves, to serve how Jesus served, and to sacrifice all we have so that we may find rest in His surpassing greatness and glory.  The Lord has promised to provide for the basics for the flesh, so, let us move past those carnal desires and desire to know, love and trust Him more today than we did yesterday.  

Yours in Christ,

Pastor John