Desiiiiire!

S
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4

O
These verses start with a command to trust God and do good. Right after, they offer an invitation to dwell in "the land", and embrace faithfulness. The very next sentence links my delight in the Lord with receiving my heart's desire.

A
It all begins with trusting in the Lord. Out of that trust flows any good I might do. As well as resting in God's provision ("dwelling in the land"), delighting in God, and getting my heart's desire. As for "befriending faithfulness", when I trust in God and delight in Him, I am befriended by the One who is always faithful, even when I am not.

He is my heart's desire. It's not as if I get to trade off a relationship with Jesus for something better. Like He'd make me healthy and successful if I just love Him. No. In delighting in Him, in loving Him, I already have my heart's desire. Out of that relationship grows good fruit. Sometimes, He is pleased to bless me with those things that most people would consider blessings, like ample provision and a long, healthy life. But they are always the offspring of a much greater blessing: the love of Christ, pure and simple.

P
Dear Lord, You are the beginning and the end. Please continue to soften my heart so it remains warm and receptive to You. Let me see temporary things clearly, longing for that which is eternal and blesses You.

C'mon Already

S
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

O
Through David, God tells me to wait for Him, and He writes it twice. He also tells me to be strong and take heart. Strength and encouragement ("take heart") are related to the waiting.

A
There's an expectation here that God will show up. He won't bail on me as I wait on Him. David is writing in this Psalm about being in a tough spot. He keeps coming back to the fact that he needs to wait, and God will show up to rescue him, or defend him, or whatever. But there's a strange break in the Psalm at verse four. David writes that all he really wants is God: to be in His presence and see His beauty. After confessing God's faithfulness and inviting His rescue in times of trouble, do I land in the place where I say, "all I really want is You"? It's tough to admit, but sometimes I want God for the benefits He offers, when the greatest gift He gives is Himself. I need to spend less time worrying about being "rescued", and more time just being with God. That's worth waiting for.

P
Dear Lord, will you please satisfy me with Yourself, so that I can say, "One thing I ask..." and leave it at that?