And He Will...

Last night in small group, Jenn shared a few of her favourite verses from Psalm 37 as an encouragement to us all. I decided to re-read that Psalm in full tonight. My heart resonated with much of what I read but it was verses 3-8 and 24-25, that I decided to spend time reflecting on.

The Psalms are written in such a way that they are meant to be felt with the heart more than analyzed by the mind. Whether it be a Psalm of praise or complaint, a plea for help, or a psalm of thanksgiving, you can't help but be moved by the laments or comforted and encouraged by the faithfulness of God. You can see woven through the pages of the Psalms the theme of obedience begetting blessing and disobedience bringing rebuke and judgment. I love the cause and effect relationship that is established in this Psalm, the faithfulness of God and His promises to those who follow in His ways.

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness like the noon day sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it only leads to evil. ...If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though He stumble; He will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand."

So often I hear people say that the Lord will give you the desires of your heart; Yet too often it is misapplied, in attempts to sanctify our own current yearnings. Verse 4 reads "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" It is when we turn our eyes upon God, when we draw so near to Him that our heart echoes His heart, when our desires align with God's desires, because we delight in the Lord and the things in which the Lord delights, that we are granted the desires of our heart. These are the desires that we truly long for, desires that will ultimately bring us fulfillment and joy, blessing others and glorifying God.