What Do You Desire?

How would you answer that question?  What do you desire, really?  Do you desire to lose weight, to exercise more, to eat more healthy?  Do you desire a new car, a bigger house, or new things for your house?  How about a new job, more family time, a vacation?  There are literally thousands and thousands of things we can desire.  Some are wants, but maybe some are needs.  Maybe some day you will get the things you desire.  Maybe not.

The word desire is defined as "a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen".  The Bible has several verses using the word desire.  The one I read a few days ago was Psalm 37:4:

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Does that verse speak to you?  To your soul?  Maybe you love the Lord, but maybe that love has diminished some.  Maybe you're not as "on fire" for Him as you once were.  This verse says to "delight" in Him.  Other versions say to "be happy".  Be happy in our love for Him.  Be happy in our lives we have devoted to Him.  Be "delighted" about every thing He is and for everything He has done.

The command at the beginning, to "delight yourself in the Lord" comes with a wonderful promise at the end, "and he will give you the desires of your heart".  Wow! Does that mean that whatever I want, God is going to give it to me?  Well, no. But, maybe!  It depends on if what you are asking for meets with God's Will or not.  It depends on the motive your heart has for asking for this "desire".  Your desire must meet with God's Will or He will not give it to to you.

But finding "delight" in the Lord is the key to the promise.  How can you delight in Him more?  By connecting with Him - through prayer, through His Word, through meditation on His Word, by being around others who are striving to do the same...by being around the church - your brothers in sisters in Christ.

If you're finding that you're delight is gone, or if you're finding that the desires of your heart are not being filled in the way you would desire them to be, perhaps it's time to take a deeper look into His Word and into your heart.  See if your desires are matching up with His Will.  See if you are truly delighting in Him, or serving and loving Him just to mark it off of your "to do" list.

God will remain true to His promise.  You must do your part, as well.  He loves you!  He wants to give you what you desire!  But He also wants you to delight in Him....forever.