Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart

The “also” in this quote from Psalm 37:4, indicates that there are a number of other instructions that need to be heeded, before the desires of our heart can be claimed. The context explains and amplifies both the instructions and the desired result. In terms of instructions, we are told three times not to fret (verses 1, 7, 8); to cease from anger (verse 8); to trust in the LORD; to do good; to dwell in the land, and to feed on His faithfulness (verse 3); to commit to the Lord; to trust in him (verse 5); to rest in him and to wait patiently for him (verse 7). Concerning the results, in addition to receiving the desires of our heart, we are assured that he will bring it to pass (verse 5) and that he will vindicate us (verse 6).

There is a strong connection between our emotional state, the things that we do, and the desires of our hearts. If we are involved in destructive habits, it will be difficult to trust in Him, we will not find rest, and though we may have no choice but to wait, it is unlikely to be patient waiting. I speak from experience! There is much that can be said about these things, but I want to mention this morning a connection between dwelling in the land, feeding on his faithfulness and delighting in Him. In this age of instant gratification, it is far too easy to be focused on what we do not have. When we do this, we miss what the Lord is doing outside of this focus!

There is a saying that rather than ask the Lord to bless what we are doing, we should cooperate with the Lord in what He is blessing. Similarly, we can get so caught up in all the ongoing evil that surrounds us, and be so stymied by it, that we fail to see the good things He is doing, and to fail to do the things that He is calling us to do. This is what He means by dwelling in the land. Perhaps the main point, is that when we obey the instructions given in this Psalm, then our desires will be right. We will have gotten out of the Lord’s way. In this way He can deal with the situation at hand, rather than having to deal with us and our anger and our fretting!

Father, Your Word shows us that peace, rest, stability, delight and hope, these things are both the fruit of the Spirit and commands to obey. Part of our obedience is our total surrender to You, and as much as it within us to do the things commanded in this Psalm. The words of the hymn come to mind: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look for in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and Grace.” Help me to do my part this morning Lord, because I know that when I do my part, You are at work in me both to give me the desires and the wherewithal to do it (Philippians 2:12, 13). And I praise and bless You again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen