Psalm 37:4 has always been one of my favorite Bible verses. It promises, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Don’t you love that? It’s almost like magic! If I just find delight in God, He will give me everything my heart could desire.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work that way in real life. Many a time I’ve wanted something with all my heart, but God didn’t come through. So, what’s going on?
As I’ve grown in my relationship to God, I’ve come to realize I’ve been reading that verse wrong. God isn’t saying He’ll give me everything my selfish heart desires. What God is really promising is that, if I delight in Him, He will give me new desires, desires that are pure, untainted by selfish interests.
But in order for this to happen. I first need a heart transplant. God promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26). No longer do I live for self, for “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).
With a new heart and new spirit comes new desires. Christ’s desires now hold sway and my entire priorities are changed. I no longer live for myself, but to glorify God and to serve others. When this happens God will happily give me the desires of my heart, because now my heart beats only for Him.
Who does your heart beat for today?