Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Psalm 37:4 NLT
I don’t remember the circumstance or situation that brought me to this verse over twenty years ago, but I do remember all the questions it stirred in me. How does this work? What does delighting in the Lord look like? If I figure this out, will I really get what I want? Which led to an even deeper question: What do I want… really want and why do I want it?
Some part of me believed this might just be the key to living a good life while insulating me from the things I feared most. I began to pray, Lord, show me how to delight in you. What I know now is that this eight-word prayer was a risky invitation for God to reveal what was actually going on in me.
Risky…? like wrapped in a bit of danger risky?
Yes. Yep. You bet ya!
Because inviting God to expose what’s actually going on in your heart isn’t always pretty. It reveals the places of pride and fear, shame and greed, not to mention the countless ways we attempt to control our world and those around us. It calls us to let go, give up, and redefine “good.”
Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said, “But don’t begin until you count the cost.” (Luke 14:25-28)
I can’t say this Way is easy. What I can say is, I wouldn’t change the prayer my younger self prayed that day. It opened the door for Love to make a home in me. Love that rearranges the furniture, cleans up all the mess, and makes room for more.
More love for God.
More love for others.
More delight in discovering
the greatest thing
a heart desires
is love.
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NLT
Over the years, I’ve taken the month of February to reflect on God’s love and consider how I am allowing Love to transform me from the inside out.
If you are willing, let’s begin with a risky prayer of invitation and ask Love to have his way in us.
Lord
I want to trust you with all my heart.
The messy and messed-up places in and around me.
I want to trust you to make room for more love, more grace, more mercy.
I want to trust you. Have mercy on me when I don’t.
(pause… breathe… listen…)
Show me how to delight in you and your way
Teach me to find peace, hope, and joy in you.
Align my heart with your desires.
(pause… breathe… listen…)
I want to be committed in everything
in my coming and going
work and rest
solitude and community.
Forgive me when I’m not.
(pause… breathe… listen…)
Help me to be still
to wait with wonder
to be patient in suffering
to recognize your presence.
(pause… breathe…listen…)
May my only desire be to discover the delight
of knowing you more and more.
Amen.
Psalm 37:3-7 NLT, adapted by me
If you are feeling led to dive deeper, consider this month’s free resource. Just click on the link below.
Leave a comment