Transformed By Truth: Delighting In The Lord’s Desires Psalm 37:4 Series

Transformed by Truth: Delighting in the Lord’s Desires

Introduction: The Promise of Psalm 37:4

Today, I want to dive deep into a verse that many of us have heard, perhaps even memorised, but maybe haven’t fully grasped. It’s a verse that speaks to the core of our relationship with God—Psalm 37:4 (NLT), which says:

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

At first glance, this verse can seem like a simple formula for getting what we want from God: if we delight in Him, then He’ll grant our desires. But is that really what this verse is teaching us? Today, we’ll unpack this scripture, looking at what it truly means to delight in the Lord and how it shapes the desires of our hearts.

1. What Does It Mean to "Delight in the Lord"?

The Hebrew word for "delight" used here is ‘anag (?????), which means to take exquisite delight, to enjoy something deeply. It’s not a shallow happiness or momentary pleasure, but a deep and abiding satisfaction in the Lord. Psalm 37:4 isn’t about using God as a means to get what we want; it’s about finding our ultimate joy and fulfilment in Him.

When we delight in the Lord, we seek Him above all else, trusting that He is the source of true joy, peace, and satisfaction. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) echoes this truth:

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

To delight in the Lord means making Him the primary object of our affection. It’s about wanting God more than anything He could give us. When our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes, our desires begin to change.

Think of a child and their parent. The child may start out wanting things—perhaps toys or treats—but over time, as they grow closer to the parent, they begin to desire time with them, to know them, and to be in their presence. The relationship itself becomes the greatest reward.

How do we delight in the Lord? By spending time with Him in prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. The more we know Him, the more we love Him, and the more our desires align with His. Pastor John Piper once said, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Our satisfaction in God leads to the fulfilment of His desires in our hearts.

2. Aligning Our Desires with God’s Desires

As we delight in the Lord, something amazing happens: our desires are transformed. The things we once craved—whether success, material possessions, or recognition—are replaced by a desire for God’s will, God’s kingdom, and God’s glory.

Let’s consider Romans 12:2 (NLT):

"Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

This verse speaks to the transformation of our minds. When we delight in the Lord, we allow Him to renew our minds, to change the way we think. As a result, we begin to desire what He desires. This transformation is key to understanding Psalm 37:4. It’s not that God gives us every selfish desire we’ve ever had. Rather, He changes our desires so that they match His.

The Hebrew word for “desires” in Psalm 37:4 is mish'aloth (???????????), which can be translated as "petitions" or "requests." It’s not simply about whims or fleeting wants; it refers to the deep desires of our hearts, the things that we earnestly seek after. When we delight in the Lord, our petitions reflect His will, not our own fleeting passions.

God is not a genie in a bottle, granting us our every wish. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. As we delight in Him, our desires shift from self-centred goals to God-centred purposes. We begin to ask for things that align with His heart—justice, mercy, peace, and love. Let’s ask ourselves: are the desires of our hearts aligned with God’s will?

Charles Spurgeon once said, “The desires of the heart must be desires for God; they must not be desires for the creature, but desires for the Creator.”

3. Trusting in God's Timing and Faithfulness

One of the challenges we face as believers is trusting in God’s timing. We may delight in the Lord, but what happens when the desires of our hearts seem delayed? Let’s look at Psalm 37:5 (NLT):

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you."

After encouraging us to delight in the Lord, the psalmist calls us to commit our ways to God and to trust Him. The Hebrew word for “commit” is galal (??????), which means to roll over or transfer something to someone else. We are called to roll our burdens, our desires, our plans onto the Lord, trusting that He will act in His perfect timing.