Get the desires of your heart

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

Both “Yes” and “No”

Throughout the years, I’ve heard lots of people say this verse above is their favorite Bible promise and is the key to getting the desires of your heart sent directly to you by God, Himself. To them, you only have to do what it says: “delight yourself in the LORD,” and, voilà, that thing that you “desire with all your heart” will be on its way.

My answer to someone saying this is both “Yes” and “No.” Let me explain. This promise isn’t a magic formula to get you that new “whatever thing,” such as a new car, boat, or beautiful person, that you desire. Instead, it’s a call to action to make God the delight of your heart, and the very act of doing that will change your heart’s desires so that you want things that are in line with God’s best for you. The more you delight yourself in God, the more you will desire what He wants for you! Yes, you will in fact end up with “the desires of your heart,” but they will be different desires that God created in you as a result of your delighting yourself in Him.

How to delight yourself in God

Delight defined:

·      Websters Dictionary: Joy, a source of great satisfaction.

·      The Bible Dictionary: Hebrew term for delight is hepes, which means “to bend towards, to be inclined towards [an object or person].”

Therefore, according to the above definition, to delight yourself in God means you would find joy in Him. He would be your source of great satisfaction. You would “bend towards Him”, and you would “be inclined towards Him.”  

So, how do you do that?

·      Work to know Him better

The better you know someone the better you know what delights them. It’s the same with God. Search the Bible to to know His likes and dislikes, His preferences, His habits, His character, His nature.

“‘Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD” (Jer. 9:24).

·      Seek Him First

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 ESV)

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (2 Chron. 16:11 ESV)

·      Spend quality time with Him

The more time you spend with someone, the better you get to know them. To spend quality time with God is to get to know Him more intimately, and to know Him that way is to enjoy Him.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (Jam. 4:8 ESV)

·      Think about Him:

“When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalms 63:6-8 ESV)

·      Talk to Him

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:6 ESV)

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 ESV)