Transformed By Truth: "delighting In God's Will" Psalm 40:8 Series

Transformed by Truth: "Delighting in God's Will" Psalm 40:8

Introduction: A Heart that Delights in God's Will

Today we are going to dive deep into a verse that captures the essence of what it means to live a life of obedience and joy in God’s presence. Psalm 40:8 (NLT) says: "I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart."

In this single verse, David expresses a profound truth that should resonate with every believer—a heart that delights in the will of God. This verse invites us to reflect on our relationship with God’s will: Do we see it as a burden, or do we, like David, find joy in aligning our lives with God’s desires?

Today, we’ll explore what it means to delight in God’s will, how that transforms our hearts, and how this joy becomes the foundation of a life of faith.

1. Delighting in God's Will Begins with a Heart Transformation

David says, “I take joy in doing your will.” The Hebrew word for “joy” here is ????? (chaphets), which means to take pleasure or delight in something. This delight is not forced; it’s a natural response to God’s goodness and love. But how can we naturally delight in God’s will when the human heart is often stubborn and self-centered?

We must understand that delighting in God’s will starts with a heart transformation—a change that only God can bring. The human heart on its own does not naturally desire to do God’s will. We are born with a sinful nature that resists God. Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT) reminds us:

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"

Without God’s intervention, our hearts are inclined toward sin. We don’t naturally seek after God’s will. But when God writes His law on our hearts, as David says in Psalm 40:8, it changes everything. The law of God—the Word of God—is no longer something external that we try to follow out of duty, but it becomes something internal, something we desire to follow out of love.

Think of a child who cleans their room because they are told to. They might do it grudgingly, but once their heart changes—once they want to make their parent happy—their actions change. Now they clean their room with joy because they love and respect their parent. In the same way, when our hearts are transformed by God’s love, we delight in doing His will.

Is your obedience to God driven by love or by duty? Do you delight in God’s will, or do you see it as a burden? Pray today that God would write His instructions on your heart, transforming your obedience into joyful submission.

John Piper puts it this way: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” When we delight in God’s will, it brings Him glory, and it brings us joy.

2. Delighting in God's Will Brings Us True Freedom

There’s a paradox in the Christian life: true freedom is found in submission to God’s will. The world tells us that freedom comes from doing whatever we want, but God’s Word teaches us that real freedom comes from aligning our desires with His.

Look at Psalm 119:45 (NLT): "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments."

This verse reveals that obeying God’s commandments doesn’t enslave us; it frees us. When we live according to God’s will, we are no longer bound by the destructive power of sin. Instead, we walk in the freedom that comes from knowing we are living the way we were created to live.

In Psalm 40:8, the word "will" in Hebrew is ?????? (ratson), which means both “will” and “delight.” It’s not just God’s will as a command; it’s His pleasure, His purpose for us. When we align our lives with God’s will, we are stepping into the life that God has designed for us, and that is where true freedom lies.

Imagine a fish in a bowl that longs to be free and jumps out, only to find that the “freedom” it desired is actually dangerous and life-threatening. The fish was designed to live in water, and true freedom for the fish is found when it stays in the environment for which it was created. In the same way, we were created to live in harmony with God’s will, and true freedom is found when we stay within His boundaries.

Are you searching for freedom in all the wrong places? Are you chasing after the fleeting pleasures of the world, only to find that they leave you empty? God’s will is where true freedom is found. When you surrender to His plan, you will experience a joy and peace that the world cannot offer.