Psalm 34:7
Delight yourself also in YHWH; and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
This is the verse on which Skip Moen did his daily post for today (read it here). It’s about the interpretation of the word desires and how it doesn’t mean my laundry list of things I want. It’s an ongoing imperfect verb. In other words, it’s not something I already have, it’s something He gives. When I delight in Him, He gives me His desires for me and then fulfills them. But I can’t come to Him with my list, like a child coming to Santa Claus. I have to come empty handed.
I thought that would be pretty easy, but as I continued to think, I realized how many things I have on my wish list… They’re not selfish things, per se, but they’re still on my wish list. I have to be willing to let these things go so that He can replace them with what He desires for me. Oddly I found myself somewhat reluctant for an instant! I know that God and goodness and love cannot be separated, but I fear that I won’t get my way. How childish, yet how common!
If I come with clenched fists grasping my things, my hands can’t accept what He has to give. I must open them and allow my stuff to fall away so that my hands are empty, and I have room for all He has to give. One of the most basic questions that people have is “What’s my purpose here on this planet? Why am I here?” Ultimately, as Skip points out, the question is, “What does God desire of me?” It seems to me, that when I delight in Him and come empty handed to receive what He desires, this question is answered. Then I find the passion to live fully as I fulfill His desires given to me, planted in my life, growing and blossoming into something new and beautiful.
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