May he give you the desire of your heart . . .
Psalm 20:4
Psalm 20:4
Maybe it's a midlife thing, but I've been thinking a lot lately about what I really want out of life. Honestly, that kind of thinking probably reflects some dissatisfaction with the way things are.
But it's more than that. In fact, I think it's healthy for all of us to think deeply about who we are, why we're here, and what life is all about.
But it's more than that. In fact, I think it's healthy for all of us to think deeply about who we are, why we're here, and what life is all about.
With that in mind, I'm intrigued by Psalm 20:4. It's a word of blessing: May the Lord grant you the desire of your heart . . . The desire of my heart. My heart's desire. I wonder what that is. My heart's desire would be that which I crave most deeply - what I want above all else - what matters most to me. Honestly, I wonder what that is.
The reason my answer isn't clear is because I desire so many things. I want to be safe. I want to be financially secure. I want to feel good about my work. I want to please God. I want to have a happy and healthy family. I want good friendships. I want to be liked. I want food and shelter. I want to do fun things. I want . . . well, actually, I want it all.
In truth, I want too many things.
I have to believe that the Psalmist is talking here about something more crucial, more central, more weighty. "Delight yourself in the Lord," we read in Psalm 37:4, "and he will give you the desires of your heart." When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we begin to want what he wants. And what he wants for us is likely more than financial security and good relationships and respectable standing in the community. It's not that those things are bad - it's just that those things are too small. God calls us to something richer and higher. We were created not merely for a good life here on earth; we were created for an intimate relationship with King of the Ages.
I suspect that the closer I walk with God, the more I will find that my heart's desire will be . . . a closer walk with God! Nothing is more valuable, more important, more momentous than that. And I'm sure that's true - but, still, it's so hard to make that the desire of my heart when so many other things call for my attention.
Several times in Scripture, David is called "a man after God's own heart." I'm not sure exactly what that means. At the very least, it means that David had a passion for God, that he hungered for God, that he wanted what God wanted. David was far from perfect, but his ultimate desire was focused on God. And when he was able to live within that focus, every other part of his life was rich and full.
We have been made for something more. We dare not settle for small desires when God wants to give us the very thing we were made for.
The reason my answer isn't clear is because I desire so many things. I want to be safe. I want to be financially secure. I want to feel good about my work. I want to please God. I want to have a happy and healthy family. I want good friendships. I want to be liked. I want food and shelter. I want to do fun things. I want . . . well, actually, I want it all.
In truth, I want too many things.
I have to believe that the Psalmist is talking here about something more crucial, more central, more weighty. "Delight yourself in the Lord," we read in Psalm 37:4, "and he will give you the desires of your heart." When we delight ourselves in the Lord, we begin to want what he wants. And what he wants for us is likely more than financial security and good relationships and respectable standing in the community. It's not that those things are bad - it's just that those things are too small. God calls us to something richer and higher. We were created not merely for a good life here on earth; we were created for an intimate relationship with King of the Ages.
I suspect that the closer I walk with God, the more I will find that my heart's desire will be . . . a closer walk with God! Nothing is more valuable, more important, more momentous than that. And I'm sure that's true - but, still, it's so hard to make that the desire of my heart when so many other things call for my attention.
Several times in Scripture, David is called "a man after God's own heart." I'm not sure exactly what that means. At the very least, it means that David had a passion for God, that he hungered for God, that he wanted what God wanted. David was far from perfect, but his ultimate desire was focused on God. And when he was able to live within that focus, every other part of his life was rich and full.
We have been made for something more. We dare not settle for small desires when God wants to give us the very thing we were made for.