Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4 KJV
Context:
Again, this is David, the man who knew how to get God's attention. He was a flawed man, just like many of us, with one of his weaknesses being women, but there was no doubt as to the quality of the commitment of his heart to God. How's my own heart? Can God trust its focus and dedication, or are there too many things fighting for attention at the same time in my heart?
Focus defines pursuits and priorities. If I am all about what I can get out, I wouldn't do much about what I can put in. No wonder David warns in the early verses of today's extract that I should not fret over the 'success' of evil men. We have allowed men without the fear of God to dictate the focus of our hearts. We have allowed our eyes to drink in all that they have, while we ignore who they truly are from God's perspective: wicked and evil men. How can the fear of God and the fear of man dwell in the same heart and at the same time?
Message and Response:
In the light of the above, today's extract is very important. I have to truly define what my focus is. I could lie to myself; it is the Holy Spirit who can show me who I am and what my priorities are. For David, this was his prescription: Delight in the Lord. That is quite deep. For those who are married, remember the first love; weeks, days and hours will seem like minutes, because you were looking forward to spending time with the one you loved. That is the same commitment and zeal that God seeks from all who claim to follow Him.
How can I delight in the Lord? My heart must be daily tuned to him, listening for what he wants to tell me from his word as well as the world he has created. His will must be my utmost priority, and I cannot have my own way, no matter how palatable or convenient it may be. There is joy from my daily encounters with God, and I seek to know more of him and have more of the joy that he brings.
Don't think for one moment that making the choice to delight in the Lord will be that easy. The devil knows the power of a focused life, and he will do his utmost best to give you viable options. He will present evil as good to you, in the hope that you will be too distracted to know the difference. And man's heart has been made in a way that something must occupy it at all times. If it is not God pulling the strings, it isn't you either. You have the power to determine who does, but truly, it isn't you in charge at all. How can you control and determine the outcome of something you could not and did not create? The one who created the heart is the one who is able to help it to live and do right.
The above is the foundation to the second part of the verse. We all claim the second part, praying that God will give us the desires of our hearts. How will God validate the desires of a heart that is not under his control and influence? If my delight is not in the Lord, what is the guarantee that whatever he gives me will give me the peace and joy I am looking for?
My heart is key to all that God is and can do in and through me. The battle for control will take place right in the heart. It is the unseen battle that will define the obvious pursuits of my life. When my own will is aligned to his, I can only ask for the things that bring him pleasure. God will give me all I ask for with pleasure, because he knows he already owns and holds my heart. He knows that my heart is on him, and that I will use all he gives me to glorify him, and not do anything to bring reproach to his name. Can God trust my heart this way? Does he hold all the parts of it or just a small part of it? These questions need to be answered, in the light of eternity. Nothing down here can replace the loss that will come if I miss the will and eternal purpose of God for my life. I owe it to God to live my life through his heart, so that he can bless my life and make me a generational blessing. His time of favour is here.
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