Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. 9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
The secret of getting ‘your way’ with God is to get your desires in sync with His – to desire His will more than you desire your own.
Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This verse is not to be seen as giving a believer (e.g., you or me) power to change God’s way of doing things. There is a sharp conflict between man’s natural way and God’s way. The apostle Paul explains this contrast clearly:
Romans 8:5 (NIV) Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (c.f., 8:1-17 for details)
To delight oneself in the Lord is to make him the joy of your life. In practical terms for us, it means to set our course to be a Christian; to allow Jesus to change our desires and to seek to be like him. Again, it is to desire His Will and Way more than our own. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (c.f., Matthew 5, 6, &7) touches on this and is a good source for personal study.
If the desires of our hearts are stubbornly set on things and ways contrary to God’s purposes and ways, the promises of Psalm 37 will not work for us. If we let God change our thinking – let him reorder our priorities and focus – he will bring our desires into line with his desires. Thus, we will find our hearts seeking to please him, and we will have the joy of experiencing the desires of our heart being realized.
Additional thoughts to ponder...
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;
How quick we are to organize our daily schedules and monthly or yearly agendas with nary a thought of what you might desire for us. How seldom we come to you with an open and willing heart prepared to align our desires with Yours. Please forgive us. Teach us to desire Your Will and Way more than we desire our own.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.
The devotional How to Get Your Way with God appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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