Topic: The Desires of Your Heart [Charles Stanley Daily Devotional 12 September 2020]

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The Desires of Your Heart

Psalm 37:1-6

Context is important to our understanding of God’s Word and His ways. But I repeatedly hear one promise quoted without consideration of surrounding ideas that explain it. People often tell me, “God said He would give me the desires of my heart, so I’m trusting Him to do that.” Before we can lay claim to this promise, we must notice one of the conditions in the first half of the We are to delight ourselves in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

What does this mean? Delight is a high degree of pleasure, satisfaction, and gratification. Although we may readily claim that we feel this way about God, the proof is in our desires and actions. Do we long to know Him and take time each day to read His Word? Are we eager to meet with Him in prayer? Is He in our thoughts throughout the day, or do we forget about Him for long stretches of time?

We must also read this promise in the context of the other verses that speak about trusting the Lord and committing our ways to Him. In other words, God is the focus—not our desires. When we truly delight in Him, His desires become ours, and we want only what is in line with His will.

Bible in One Year: Daniel 1-2