My Heart's Desire

Key Verse: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desire of your heart." (Psalm 37:4 NIV)

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day so it seems relevant to have dreams at the forefront of my mind. Like our famous American hero to whom we give remembrance on this day, I am a dreamer. From imaginary friends to mysterious worlds of fiction, my heart has always been intrigued by the fanciful. Still, the world, heavy with responsibilites, manages to occassionally jolt me back to reality. Even so, when my heart sets itself to dreaming, I go along for the ride enthusiastically. Unfortuately, I don't always believe that my dreams can come true. Wrestling with doubt, I often come back down from the clouds with a heart gripped by cynicism. It is a darkness that has swallowed our frail world. I believe dreams are the antidote to the mayhem all around us. For dreams are merely hopes left momentarily unseen.

Scripture instructs us to "delight in the LORD and he shall give us the desires of our heart." (Psalm 37:4 NIV) So what does it mean to delight in God? Perhaps the answer lies in his very name. For God's proper name is Jehovah, which translates into "the existing one". Rather than placing our trust in the tangible circumstances around us, God is calling his people to look to Him and believe in His unshakeable character. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow He is Jehovah, "one who exists". As we look to his majesty and seek after God with passionate devotion, we in turn find ourselves changed. Hearts are turned by God's loving hand as he fills believers with His spirit and leads us forth in truth. We delight in the LORD when we pursue His Kingdom before our own. God's love changes our selfish longings and plants in us His dream for our lives. With trust we march toward tomorrow with the understanding that "those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Romans 8:5 NIV) Indeed, a dream is planted within each one of us and we are called to pursue it faithfully.

The world, gripped by sin is groaning as all of creation looks to Jehovah for redemption. (Romans 8:22) God is mobilizing His children to pursue the desires of the heart for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) Still, we have an enemy who wishes to see those dreams whither in unbelief. Therefore we are challenged to align our hearts with LORD and cling to our God-given dreams. Let us delight in His presence and believe in His Sovereignty in all situations. Let us not look with eyes of doubt, but instead face tomorrow with hope. For we can have our heart's desires if our greatest longing is to know the LORD. He is more than a dream. He is Jehovah. One who exists. One who longs to grant you the desires of your heart.

Dear LORD,
We delight in you with hearts filled with awesome praise for you are Jehovah, one who exists. Your majesty surpasses all we can imagine and we are set free to dream by the love you have for us as your people. We confess that we are often gripped by doubt and paralyzed by unbelief. Let it not be so. Mobilize your people and set their hearts to fulfill your desires so that you may be glorified. Make room in our lives for your dreams.
-Amen

Reflection: What great desire has God placed on your heart?