Delights And Desires!

December 16, 2025

Scripture

“Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and enjoy security.  Take delight in the Lord, and

he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:3-4

Delights And Desires!

Sometimes it seems everyone is critical and cynical.  Almost every conversation seems to eventually finds its way to that which is negative and pessimistic.  Even when a person tries to steer the conversation to something more uplifting and encouraging, there seems to be resistance.  So many people seem preoccupied with the people that are wrong and/or things in the world that are wrong.

Even among some of the most devout Christ-followers, I have noticed a rather significant lack of hope and joy.  Showing appreciation for small things, finding pleasure in small acts of kindness, and experiencing pleasure in God’s blessings seem more rare than commonplace.

I wonder if our preoccupation on what we believe is wrong is easier than doing something to make things right.  I wonder if grinding on our pessimism is easier than giving the Lord God thanks for the things He is doing today.  I wonder if slipping into discouragement and disillusionment is easier than growing the kind of faith that brings courage for today and hope for the future.

During his life, David learned that the things with which we fill our heart and mind and soul impact our relationships with other people, with our self, and with the Lord God.  One of the first life-lessons David lifts up in Psalm 37 describes the things we should nurture in our heart, mind, and soul.

In Psalm 37:4 David writes; “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  David tells us that one of the most important things we can do is to “take delight in the Lord.” 

+To take delight in the Lord is much different than letting negativity and pessimism fill our mind and our conversations.

+To take delight in the Lord is much different than filling every conversation with criticism and cynicism.

+To take delight in the Lord is much different than living with a lack of hope and joy and love and peace.

And yet, when we are in the midst of deep trouble or a long season of struggle it is easy to slip into a mind-set or a heart-place or a soul-focus that fails to take delight in the Lord God.  In contrast, David had learned the Lord God is worthy; i.e., the Lord God is good, the Lord God is great, the Lord God is gracious, the Lord God is generous, the Lord God is God! 

Long before the acts of God (what God has/is doing) inspire us to take delight in the Lord God, the character of God (who God is) should elicit a response of delight and pleasure and gratitude in the Lord God.

Our prayer life will quickly reveal if we are taking delight in the Lord God.  When you prayed yesterday, how much, if any, of your prayers were filled with moments of praising the Lord God, taking delight in the Lord God, or expressing gratitude to the Lord God? 

Sometimes our prayers are filled with everything that is wrong; our disappointment and desperation, our pain from the past or anxiety about the future, or our anger for being wronged and our loneliness in our loss.  Sometimes our prayers are filled with pleading rather than praising, with complaining rather than confessing, with exaggeration rather than exaltation.  

David calls us to take delight in the Lord God.  But notice that there is a promise that comes with this instruction.  David says that when you take delight in the Lord God, the Lord God “…will give you the desires of your heart.” 

+If the desire of your heart is to buy another farm or business, I am not sure that is what the Lord God is promising.  The real desire of your heart is much deeper than things! 

+If the desire of your heart is for harm to come to someone who hurt you, I am not sure that is what the Lord God is promising.  The real desire of your heart is much deeper than inflicting pain! 

+If the desire of your heart is to get what someone else possesses, I am not sure that is what the Lord God is promising.  The real desire of your heart is much deeper than envy!

A I read through Psalm 37, it appears David is describing the “desire of your heart” as hope and joy and peace and love.  I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s description of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

In Galatians 5:22-26 Paul writes; “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against such things.  And those who belong to Christhave crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.”      

The desires of our heart honors the Lord God when it is yearning for more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit that Paul describes in his letter to the Galatians.  These fruit push out the passions and desires that dishonor God and hurt other people.  These fruit push out conceit and competition and envy.  These fruit push out the negativity and complaint and pessimism.

In contrast, these fruit make room in you and me for a life of holiness, a life of hope, a life of joy.

Reflect

Take a few moments to do a careful inventory of your prayer life.  What has been the focus during the last week?  Is there hope or joy?  Are you taking delight in or finding pleasure in your relationship with Jesus?  Or, is there a heavy leaning towards that which is critical or cynical or complaining?  What would it look like if about half of each of your prayers was filled with taking delight in the goodness and greatness and grace of the Lord God?

Pray

Lord God, it is easy for me to slip into a dark hole in my conversations with you.  I get hooked by the hurt I am feeling today or the pain from my past.  I forget to praise you for Your goodness and for the good things you have done and are doing in me today.  I get focused on the things I perceive to be wrong in my life or in the life of someone about whom I care and I forget to take delight in You, I forget to take pleasure in You, I forget to worship You.  Forgive me for turning my eyes to anything but you, Jesus.  Give me the strength and courage I need to turn my eyes to You so I can take delight in You with the confidence You will give me the desires of my heart.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Act

First, take one of your prayer times today and devote the time entirely to taking delight in the Lord God.  Second, in all your other prayer times, try to begin your prayer by giving praise and thanks to the Lord God.  Third, find a church where you can attend worship this weekend for the purpose of taking delight in, finding pleasure in, and offering gratitude to the Lord God.