The Desires of Your Heart - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 23
The Desires of Your Heart
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart,” Psalm 37:4 (NKJV).
We all know the legends in which a nod of the head, a rub of the lamp, or a drink of fantastic waters will allow someone’s greatest wishes to come true. While these stories are fiction rather than fact, in many ways, we yearn for such a reality. We think that if we could just receive what we are longing for, our hearts would finally be satisfied. My husband often likes to joke, “If I can only win a million dollars, then life would be perfect. I don’t need to be greedy; I just want one. Just one tiny million, and then I would never ask for anything else.”
Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you aren’t dreaming of a million dollars or a grand house on a hill (that is fully paid off), but it is so easy to believe tangible items or outcomes will ease our angst. We project, if my children would just find the right spouse, then I would have peace. If my parents’ health would improve, then I will stop worrying. If I could just obtain that perfect job, then I would be happy. The list can go on and on. However, what we are really seeking is our version of what we think we want.
Thankfully, our Heavenly Father sees far beyond our momentary light afflictions (2 Cor. 4:17) and into the deep crevices of our souls. He, and He alone, understands the true desires of our hearts when we may not know them ourselves.
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb…
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!” - Psalm 139:13-18 (NLT)
God formed us and saw the path our lives would take while on this planet. He is intimately aware of the thoughts of our hearts and omnisciently redirects our lives so that we may receive the true desires of our hearts rather than our shallow substitutes. For many of us, the ultimate longing of our heart is oneness with Him. There is a well-known Christian saying, “There’s a God-shaped hole in our hearts.” While it may sound cliché, there is profound truth in this statement. Nothing else will satisfy that innate craving each one of us carries within our souls other than the Lord.
Because of this, our Heavenly Father is so good to grant us rich, abundant treasure. Through trials or blessings, each circumstance is a gift from Him that draws us closer as He grants us the true desires of our hearts. The eternal treasure of Him.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you felt like no matter what goals you achieve or gifts you are granted, that nothing satisfies? Maybe you have taken the dream vacation, found the perfect spouse, or got into the exact college you were hoping for, and still, it feels like something significant is missing. If that is you, may I encourage you to quietly reflect today on the true desires of your heart?
Take some time today to consider the goals, circumstances, or possessions you are yearning for and write them down. Once you have made your list, reflect on the outcomes you feel are connected to each item. How will each one of these make you “happy”? Then, ask yourself, will those things continue to satisfy six months from now, two years from now? What about five or ten years from now? Is it possible that once these goals are achieved, your “happiness” may wane, and you will be looking forward to the next shiny object for satisfaction?
If so, may I recommend reading through the additional scriptures provided, or looking up some of your own that remind you of God’s unending presence and comfort? I pray as you draw closer to the Lord, you are able to find true contentment in Him and Him alone.
Further Reading:
Psalm 139
John 4:1-26
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter. If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.
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