Delight in God - Psalm 37:4-5

Psalm 37:4-5 NLT - “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit everything to the Lord. Trust Him and He will take care of you.”

To take delight in the Lord is to know Him and to enjoy His presence. This also indicates a life of obedience. When we know and obey God and find joy in His presence, then God will fulfill the desires in our hearts because they will be His desires. When we draw close to God, His desires become our own and He will work in our lives to see those desires accomplished. If we will surrender ourselves and everything we have to God and deny the temptation to try to control everything and trust in Him, we will see that He will take care of us as He, “Causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and have been called by Him. (Romans 8:28)” Our worries, fears, and anxieties are the evidence of a lack of trust in God – either in His power and control, or His goodness and love. When these kinds of doubt begin to come upon you, turn in your heart to God and say to Him, “I trust You. Help me to trust You more.” God deserves to be trusted for He is “the faithful God, keeping His promise of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him. (Deuteronomy 7:9)” and you can trust Him for He is the Lord almighty, sovereign and wise.

To delight in God also implies a personal relationship. We must pursue God for He has pursued us as scripture says, “but God demonstrates His own love for us in this that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)” Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) – and that means us. Not only did He die to save us and display His love for us, but He pursues a relationship with us every day. The psalmist says, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ My heart cries out, ‘Lord, I am coming.’(Psalm 27:8)” Scripture also says, “He has ordained every part of our lives. Where we would live and when we would be born so that we might look for Him, though He is not far from every one of us.( Acts 17:26-27)” May we never forget that He not only calls us “sheep” and “servants”, but also “child”, “friend”, “bride”, and “beloved”. Are we then surprised that He says things like, “you must worship nothing else for God…is passionate about His relationship with you.”(Exodus 34:14 NLT)? Or that the first commandment given and the one that Jesus indicates as most important is this; that we would, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30).” If we would truly do this, oh! How it would change everything! Obedience would be a joy and not a burden, prayer would be an amazing privilege and the constant occupation of our hearts, and we would come to Scripture with hunger and passion that we might know and love God better. Then the love, joy, and passion that then marked our lives would make those around us ask, “What do you have, and how can I get it?”. God calls each of us out of our “paddling pool” of religion and into the vast ocean of a love relationship with Him. We know that such a thing is not predictable or safe, but wild and free. In order to have the courage to pursue this kind of love, we must ask the object of that love for His help. Who can doubt that He will answer such a request? The first step in knowing and loving God better is to ask Him to set to work in out hearts and lives.

May this be our constant prayer: “Lord God, help me to trust in You. Take my doubts, fears, and anxieties and remind me that You take care of me. Nothing ever surprises You for in Your sovereignty You know everything and have everything all planned out for my good and to Your glory. Light a flame of passion in my heart for You. Teach me how to purse You and give me the courage to chase after You, even though You are ever pursuing me. Help me to know You and help me to love You. These things can be hard for me to do and understand, but I know that You are always at work in my heart and You desire this for me. Tune my heart to Your desires, that I may ask of You with confidence knowing that You will answer the prayers that You have placed in my heart for me to pray. When the shadows of doubt fall over my heart, remind me of Your word and Your unfailing love. Whisper to me. Help me to hear You. May You be more than first but also the single passion of my existence. You alone are worthy of all that is in my heart. Help me to love You as You desire and deserve – with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. For the sake of Your name and to Your glory I pray. Amen.”

See the songs; All I’m Asking For, Rest in My Arms, Overwhelm Me, Until I Burn