Psalm 37:4 - Find Your Delight In The Lord.
Psalm 37:4 " Find Your Delight In The Lord.
Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give
you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 (NIRV) Find your delight in the Lord. Then he will
give you everything your heart really wants.
Psalm 37:4 (TEV) Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will
give you your heart's desire.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Last summer, I went to the concession stand during a baseball
game. I asked the lady at the counter, "Do you have Coke or Pepsi?"
Her response? "No, but we have water." Did she really think water
was a reasonable substitute for a soft drink? Who knows, maybe she
did. But I sure didn't.
It's strange how we try to substitute one thing with another
that doesn't even come close. In my life, there are many times when I
try to substitute something else for my relationship with God. Even
though I've learned the lesson over and over again, I still try to find
happiness in possessions. It's ridiculous, and I know that. But I still
get caught up in it.
The Lord wants us to seek him, not some ridiculous
substitute. He wants us to allow him to fill us up and satisfy our souls.
And yet, we can become that waiter behind the counter trying to
convince ourselves that "something else" is an acceptable option. Let's
drink in God's love and allow him to quench our thirst with his living
water. It's the only thing that will satisfy.
Lord, thank you for loving me and filling me with the water
of life. Nothing else can quench my thirst and satisfy my yearning.
In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John
& Johnny Baker]
COMMENTARY: DEEPER STUDY
David urged us to take delight in the Lord and to commit to
him everything we have and do (Psalm 37:3-6). But how does a person
"take delight in the Lord)" (37:4)? To delight means to enjoy, so to
take delight in God means to enjoy his presence, his company, and his
will. Our goal should be to enjoy God, to want what God wants, to seek
his presence, to enjoy his company.
Review any goals you have for your life. Do they match what
God wants for you? Make it your goal to take delight in God today.
[The One Year Through the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman re vv.
1-9]
David calls us to take delight in the Lord and to commit
everything we have and do (our way) to him. But how do we do this? To
delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or
her presence. This happens only when we know that person well. Thus,
to delight in the Lord, we must know him better. Knowledge of
Gods great love for us will indeed give us delight.
To commit ourselves to the Lord means entrusting
everything"our lives, families, jobs, possessions"to his control and
guidance. To commit ourselves to the Lord means to trust in him (Psalm
37:5), believing that he can care for us better than we can ourselves.
We should be willing to wait patiently (Psalm 37:7) for him to work
out what is best for us. [Life Application SB]
Your relationship with God ought to bring you more joy,
satisfaction, and pleasure than any other relationship, activity, or material
possession you have. Scripture exhorts you to delight yourself in the Lord,
finding your greatest pleasure in God and the things dear to His heart.
How can you find pleasure in what God enjoys? Only as you
spend time with Him will you begin to take delight in the things God
loves. As you spend intimate time with God and allow Him to show you
your situation from His perspective, you will begin to see things as
God sees them. As you adjust yourself to God, your heart will begin
to desire the same things Gods heart desires. When you pray, you
will find yourself asking for the very things God desires. Matters
foremost on Gods heart will be preeminent in yours. Your first request
in prayer will not be for yourself, but for Gods name to be
exalted and His kingdom to be extended (Mt 6:9"10).
Have you been asking God to give you the desires of your
heart without first seeking to understand what is on His heart? God
places this important requirement for those who pray: that we seek His
priorities and make them our own. This great qualifier prevents us from
asking out of selfishness. As we find joy in the Lord, we will see what
is truly important, and we will long for these things as the Father
does. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby]
Take Delight In The LORD ... Psalm 37:4
We love the last half of this verse. The first half isn't bad
either; we just don't fully understand what it means. How exactly do we
"delight" in the Lord? We serve Him, believe in Him, even love Him. But
delight? Most of us don't get chill bumps and rapid heartbeats about God
for more than a few moments at a time. It isn't always pure
pleasure.
If our relationship with God isn't full of delight, then we
have some misperceptions about Him. Perhaps we assume He's down on us
for not measuring up to His high standards, or maybe we resent that
He didn't seem to answer that desperate prayer we prayed. We might
have interpreted His apparent distance as a lack of love, or His
words as a system of sterile doctrine. But if we really saw Him for
who He is - the beauty of His face or the majesty and mystery of His
throne room - we would be completely captivated. If we truly understood
His purposes and the love behind His ways, we would be profoundly
grateful.
The rewards for delighting in the Lord are appealing, but in
many ways the delight is a reward in itself. If you push past the
false assumptions and ask to see Him as He is, He will completely
capture your imagination. The intrigue of a relationship with Him, with
all His passion and zeal, makes for a fascinating adventure. No one
can be bored in His Presence. He urges us to delight in Him because
He is worthy of our delight.
Lord, break through my false assumptions about You. I want to
see You as You are. Capture my imagination. Fill my heart with
delight. Thrill me with the joy of knowing You. [The One Year
Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
... And He Will Give You Your Heart's Desires. Psalm 37:4
We are drawn to those who love us, and we enjoy doing things
for them. In fact, we go out of our way to please those who express
affection for us. So does God. He responds to our affection for Him with
signs of His affection for us.
Those who delight in God - who turn their hearts toward Him
and enjoy His Presence, regardless of the trials and contradictions
in their lives - notice an unusual phenomenon. Their desires begin
to be fulfilled. Part of the reason for that is that when we are
saturated in love for God, His Spirit can shape our desires. He plants His
desires within us. But another reason is that when our hearts are drawn
to Him, He is drawn to us. He rises up to defend and provide for
those who have enjoyed His intimacy.
This is why Jesus tells His disciples that if they remain
united to Him and His words thrive in them, they can ask any request
they want and He will do it for them (John 15:7). God doesn't just
impose His sovereign will on those who love Him. Our desires affect
Him. He interacts with us at the level of our longings. He shapes who
we are and then trusts us to desire worthwhile things. Then He
supports those desires and fulfills them.
However this extravagant promise functions, the result is
that our desires and His answers line up.We no longer live in
futility and frustration with our longings remaining perpetually
unfulfilled. Somehow our pleasure in God results in His pleasure in
fulfilling the matters on our hearts.
Father, in spite of all my questions, and in spite of
whatever contradictions my faith experiences, I delight in who You are.
My relationship with You is my highest priority. Shape my heart,
fill me with Your desires, and let me experience satisfaction and
fulfillment. [The One Year Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen re Psa. 37:4]
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's
desires. Psalm 37:4
Every human being on the planet has desires, and everyone
longs for them to be fulfilled. In fact, this is what motivates most
people. We are by nature desire driven. Many Christians want to mature
beyond this dynamic and become truth-driven beings, and that's a valid
goal. But even when we learn truth and base our lives on it, we still
have desires. God has wired us to work that way. The real goal of our
faith is not to get rid of desires, but to align our desires with
God's purposes.
Whether Psalm 37:4 means God will fulfill our desires or
plant the right desires within us may be a familiar discussion, but
the outcome is the same: When we delight ourselves in Him, there's
an alignment between our hearts' desires and the outcomes in our
lives. That's what we want - an end to the frustrating gap between
desire and fulfillment, that never-ending sense that whatever we really
want isn't going to work out. That gap has led many to view God as
someone who gives us only what we need, not what we want - sort of like
that great-aunt or -uncle who skips over all the fun items on your
Christmas list and gives you socks because that's what you really need.
But is that really God's heart?
No, God works through our desires. We have to use
discernment, but chances are the long-lasting desires that are consistent
with God's purposes are from Him. He wants us to dream with Him, so
He speaks through our dreams and desires. That does not mean that
all our desires reflect His voice. We may have plenty of passions
that are misplaced or misinterpreted. But the core of our desires is
most likely rooted in a godly impulse, and when the dream takes the
right shape and persists over time, it will direct us toward God's
purposes.
Notice what you dream about. God's voice is in it somewhere.
Lord, You are the fulfiller of my heart, not the denier of
it. Shape my heart to desire Your will. Put Your dreams within me.
Speak through the longings that excite me most. [The One Year Hearing
His Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am calling you to live in joyful dependence on Me. Many
people view dependence as a despicable condition, so they strive to be
as self-sufficient as possible. This is not My way for you! I
designed you to need Me continually - and to delight in that neediness.
When you live in harmony with your Creator's intentions for you, you
can maximize your potential and enjoy your life more.
The apostle Paul exhorted Christians to be joyful always and
to pray continually. There is always Joy to be found in My
Presence, and I have promised I will not leave you or forsake you. So you
can speak to Me at all times, knowing that I hear and I care.
Praying continually is a way of demonstrating your deliberate dependence
on Me - the One to whom you pray. Another powerful way of relying
on Me is studying My Word, asking Me to use it to transform you
through and through. These delightful disciplines help you live in
joyful dependence on Me. Delight yourself in Me more and more; this
increases your Joy and glorifies Me. (1Th. 5:16, 17; Deu. 31:8; Psa.
119:10-12; 37:4) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
In everything you do, put Me first, and I will direct you and
crown your efforts with success. Putting Me first sounds so simple and
straightforward. But the world, the flesh, and the devil war against your efforts
to do this. You can easily justify letting other things creep into
the space and time you had set aside for Me. If this happens only
occasionally, it is just part of being human. However, if you see it becoming
a pattern in your life, watch out! Your priorities may have been
gradually shifting - until I am no longer your First Love.
Putting Me first is not an arbitrary rule; it is the way to
live vibrantly, joyfully - close to Me. It is also the way to live
purposefully, letting Me direct your steps. When I am your top priority, other
things fall into their proper place. So delight yourself in Me first
and foremost. As you walk in the Light of My Presence, I open up the
path before you - and give you the desires of your heart. (Pro. 3:6;
Rev. 2:4; Psa. 37:4; 1Jo. 1:7) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
Seek to please Me above all else. As you journey through today,
there will be many choice-points along your way. Most of the day's
decisions will be small ones you have to make quickly. You need some rule
of thumb to help you make good choices. Many people's decisions are
a combination of their habitual responses and their desire to
please themselves or others. This is not My way for you. Strive to
please Me in everything, not just in major decisions. This is possible
only to the extent that you are living in close communion with Me.
When My Presence is your deepest delight, you know almost
instinctively what will please Me. A quick glance at Me is all you need to
make the right choice. Delight yourself in Me more and more; seek My
pleasure in all you do. (John 8:29; Heb. 11:5, 6; Psa. 37:4) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
I am life and light in abundance. As you spend time "soaking"
in My Presence, you are energized and lightened. Through communing
with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders. By
gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life. This time alone
with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out
the day before you.
Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me.
Opposition comes in many forms: your own desire to linger in bed; the evil
one's determination to distract you from Me; the pressure of family,
friends, and your own inner critic to spend your time more productively.
As you grow in your desire to please Me above all else, you gain
strength to resist these opponents. Delight yourself in Me, for I am the
deepest Desire of your heart. (Psa. 48:9; Deu. 33:12; Psa. 37:4) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
I am ever so near you, hovering over your shoulder, reading
every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless,
but yours are precious to Me. I smile when you think lovingly of Me.
My Spirit, who lives within you, helps you to think My thoughts. As
your thinking goes, so goes your entire being.
Let Me be your positive Focus. When you look to Me, knowing
Me as God with you, you experience Joy. This is according to My
ancient design, when I first crafted man. Modern man seeks his positive
focus elsewhere: in sports, sensations, acquiring new possessions.
Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in
their lives. I planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only
I could fully satisfy it. Delight yourself in Me; let Me become
the Desire of your heart. (Mat. 1:23; Psa. 37:4) [Jesus Calling by
Sarah Young]
Remember that you live in a fallen world: an abnormal world
tainted by sin. Much frustration and failure result from your seeking
perfection in this life. There is nothing perfect in this world except Me.
That is why closeness to Me satisfies deep yearnings and fills you
with Joy.
I have planted longing for perfection in every human heart.
This is a good desire, which I alone can fulfill. But most people
seek this fulfillment in other people and earthly pleasures or
achievements. Thus they create idols, before which they bow down. I will have
no other gods before Me! Make Me the deepest desire of your heart.
Let Me fulfill your yearning for perfection. (Exo. 20:3; Psa. 37:4)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Don't think of prayer as a chore. Instead, view it as
communicating with the One you adore. Delight yourself in Me; this will draw
you irresistibly into communion with Me. Remember all that I am to
you, all I have done for you. I love you with perfect, everlasting
Love, and I take great delight in you. Let My tenderness embrace you,
convincing you that you are indeed My beloved. Rejoice in the One who will
never let you go!
Often the easiest way to start talking with Me is to thank Me
for being your Savior, Redeemer. and Friend. You can also give
thanks for things that are happening in your life, your family, your
church, and beyond. These grateful prayers connect you with Me and ease
the way into other prayers. (Psa. 37:4; Zep. 3:17; Psa. 118:28, 29;
62:8) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
Rejoice in the hope of My glory. Even though many people use
the word hope to denote wishful thinking, My Glory-hope rings with
the certainty of absolute truth! I have promised that all My
children will share My Glory, and I intend to keep that promise.
Moreover, I have all the Power I need - infinite Power - to enable Me to
do so.
The nature of hope is that it refers to something in the
future, something not yet. So you need to wait patiently for me to
fulfill My promises. If patience is not your strong point, remember that
it is a fruit of the Spirit. You can ask the Holy Spirit to help
you wait hopefully in My Presence. Waiting is often a boring task
unless you have something interesting to do or someone interesting to
be with. When you wait in My Presence, rejoice that you are in the
company of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. I am infinitely
more brilliant and creative than you can imagine. Delight in this
awesome privilege of being with Me now and throughout eternity. (Rom.
5:1, 2; 8:18; Gal. 5:22, 23; Psa. 37:4) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20040813-0939.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090720-1506.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2011/20110218-1118.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
http://www.aBible.com
