The Deep Desires of Your Heart

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

Just like everyone else in the world, Christians are busy with work, family, church, sports, hobbies, you name it. But all too often our busyness lacks a sense of God’s leading and will. We want to know God’s plan for our lives, but we secretly (or not so secretly!) think our dreams and desires don’t matter to Him.

But they do.

But God has a plan for your life. And that plan includes what you want to do. It includes the deepest desires of your heart. Sometimes we express these desires in ways that don’t help fulfill them. Just because you’re longing for a bigger house doesn’t mean that’s your deep desire. Your deep desire may be a need for inner space, for order, for beauty. That’s the desire God knows and wants to fulfill.

That’s not to say that a bigger house isn’t something you need! When we brought our new baby home to a tiny two-bedroom house, I knew what we needed! So did God, and He provided for us.

But the main focus is the deep desires, the good desires, the true desires of your heart. That’s what God works to fulfill in you, and what He wants your help to do. God’s Word has a lot to say about that kind of desire:

May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. (Psalm 20:4)

You [God] have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. (Psalm 21:2)

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)

[God] satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Ps. 103:5)

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:19)

These are the deep desires that God truly honors:

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)

Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. (Psalm 73:25)

They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. (Psalm 107:30)

She [wisdom] is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 3:15)

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. (Proverbs 11:23)

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4)

Yes, LORD, walking in the way of Your laws, we wait for You; Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. (Isaiah 26:8)

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:31)

Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. (2 Corinthians 8:10)

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1)

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. (Hebrews 13:18)