Give Me Your Desires, O Lord

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Have you ever stopped to consider the things you want as opposed to the things God wants you to have? This can be a very telling exercise. It's not for wimps. When Jesus found Himself in a crowd, gathered simply to hear whatever it was He had to say, He didn't talk about how to get ahead in the world. He didn't talk about how to succeed in business or how to invest for one's financial future. Neither did He discuss the ins and outs of politics. Instead, Jesus talked about things, that if taken to heart, would affect every aspect of a person's life:

• If you want to receive the Kingdom of Heaven, realize your need for God and live for God, even if you are persecuted for it.
• If you want to be comforted, mourn over the sin that separates you from God.
• If you want the whole earth, be gentle and lowly.
• If you want justice, be hungry and thirsty for it. 
• If you want to be shown mercy, be merciful.
• If you want to see God, have a pure heart. 
• If you want to be called a child of God, work for peace. (Matthew 5:1-10)

Are any of these things appealing? They are tremendous treasures, but they ask a costly price.

God wants us to have these things, but we have to redirect our desires, priorities, and our hearts. Each of these attitudes is possible in a life submitted to Christ. Through Him, nothing is impossible. These are the possessions that will truly bring about an abundant life. Jesus did not waste words; He got straight to the point.

The word of God is like a mirror. When we really look into it, we may see things we don't like about ourselves. But praise be to God, He can give us a makeover that will last eternally. By earnestly praying for a pure heart, God will change many things in the person asking. I guess it comes down to what we do and do not value. May our values be conformed to His, because the reverse of this will never come true.

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