On my last post Pure Delight we talked briefly about Psalm 37:4-5 regarding the conditions for receiving the desires of our heart. I’d like to expand on those today so we have a realistic picture of how to not only receive but also discover the true desires of our heart. As verse 3 opens up (I use NKJV like this one) we see the first of 5 responsibilities:
1. Trust in the Lord. Trust comes from believing God despite the circumstances. For instance, I have more month than money yet I know God says to trust Him with my tithe (Malachi 3:8-10). As I am obedient God shows over and over how He meets my need therefore trust develops. Faith = trust.*
The second condition is pretty simple.
2. Do good. Serve others, encourage them, walk in obedience, give glory to God with your words, feed the hungry (see Deuteronomy 12 and Micah 6:8) and so forth. You get the picture.
3. Dwell in the land. No matter where we are God can use us. Stay put unless He says to go. Often we are ready to jet because we’re bored or uncomfortable but that’s when God can do the greatest work in us. Developing character and humility is one of the biggest struggles we have. Our prideful flesh says we deserve better or we’re suffering too much. Usually the problem lies within us so until we confront and deal with our pride we will continue to experience the same issues no matter where we are.
Number four connects with number 1. God is faithful. If we trust Him we will see His faithfulness. Actually, we can even feed on it.
God is faithful. He is never late. His timing is always perfect. We won’t learn this unless we wait on Him instead of taking matters in our own hands. Read Genesis 16 to see what happens when you don’t wait on God.
But the last one is the big one.
5. Delight yourself in the LORD. Okay, but what does it mean to delight yourself in the LORD?
It’s probably not what you think.
Delight is the Hebrew word anag which translates: to be soft, pliable.
Wait, what?
It doesn’t mean praise Him, pray around the clock or volunteer a zillion hours at church or…?
Nope, it doesn’t.
Anag is about becoming soft and pliable in the hands of the master potter.
It’s about surrender.
I can hear you now,”But that’s so hard, surrendering goes against my very nature!
Yep, you’re right it does. Our flesh wants to rule but to delight in the LORD
we need to let go.
We have to bury our flesh and
allow God to mold us into who He created us to be.
It is a process, a life long journey.
We surrender not one time but over and over as He squeezes out impurities and forms us into His image.
It ain’t easy and it hurts but oh so worth it.
See, we have to understand God knows us better than we know ourselves.
This process leads to discovering who we are and since
God is a gentleman, He won’t do anything without our permission.
As we surrender, He takes the garbage and gives us Himself.
What a trade-off! Us for Him.
The more flesh goes out the more Holy Spirit comes in.
The more Holy Spirit the more we are transformed into His image.
Then we exhibit the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22).
We are delighted in Him!
We discover and receive the desires of our heart!
It’s a promise.
Prayerfully evaluate your status regarding the five conditions above and ask God to help you be soft and pliable. It is the power of His grace which enables us to become soft and pliable. You will be AMAZED at His plans for you!
PS – if you hear a voice of condemnation it’s not the Lord. He reproves or convicts us with gentleness and love, He doesn’t condemn.
And let me know how it goes – I’ll be praying for you.
*Our initial decision accepting Jesus as Savior is our first step in the journey of faith. Want to know more about Jesus? click here