“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
A few years ago, I listened to a sermon delivered by the one and only Priscilla Shirer.
Priscilla Shirer is the author of various books such as Elijah, Awaken, Fervent, Discerning the Voice of God, and more! She is an accomplished actress and starred as a lead in the movie The War Room. Priscilla is a dynamic speaker and is also the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, who is the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church located in Dallas, Texas.
Every time Priscilla speaks, I am instantly captivated, and this sermon was no different.
As she was speaking, she referred to Psalm 37:4 NIV. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
She began to explain that this scripture should not be deduced to the idea that God will give you anything that you ask for. Instead, we should live our lives devoted to God, and in turn, his desires become our desires.
Essentially, when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, our desires start to shift to align with God’s will.
Our relationship with God changes our desires and even our sense of direction.
I often think about this explanation of scripture when faced with challenging decisions. I admit that I usually am a person who needs various confirmations from God to feel confident in a decision to make or a path to take. I frequently look for signs or something tangible to make me feel more at ease in deciding.
Psalm 37:4 reminds me that there is much to be said about those who delight themselves in the Lord.
We don’t always need a sign to move. Even our desires that are rooted in taking delight in the Lord are subtle ways that God directs our paths. The more I grow in my relationship with God, the more I desire the things of God. This means that even my desires that are in alignment with God’s will are nudges in the right direction.
God’s direction is not always loud or flashy. He even directs us subtly through our desires.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the desires you have placed in my heart. Align me to your will, and give me the mindset to trust where you are leading me, even in the most subtle ways.
Your Turn:
In what ways has God directed your path? How would you like for God to direct you? Do you have desires God has placed in your heart, and if so, have you pursued them?