Bringing Truth To The Clichés

Nikki Hixson

“Nikki, you know what the Word says- ‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’- Psalm 37:4”.  I have heard this verse approximately 5, 863 times.  Okay okay, maybe that is exaggerating a little bit.  But, really.  I have heard it so much during these last 9 years of walking with the Lord; people quote it ALL THE TIME.  It is used when the conversation turns to dating.  It is quoted when referring to jobs.  It’s mentioned when talking about marriage.  Shoot, I think I might have even heard it be offered when talking about dessert. No kidding.

So, what did I learn? Basically, all I have to do is delight (take great pleasure) in the Lord and He will give me the desires of my heart (what I really want in this life).  Do I believe this is true?  Absolutely.  Do I think we, in the church, often get it wrong?  Without a doubt.  We are so quick to assume that we know what the desires of our hearts are.  We immediately assume “the desires of our hearts” must be the physical, material things we often want and cling to.  However, in believing that is what this verse is saying, we’re really selling ourselves short and missing the best part… the greatest part… the most important part.

I believe what this verse is really saying is that in delighting ourselves in God, we receive the desires of our heart… which is ultimately more of Him.  When we take great pleasure in God, we learn that all we really want is more of Him.  That is the desire of our heart.  All this other stuff is less than.  It will never be enough. And it was never meant to be enough. God knows every single thing about you because He created you.  Moreover, He has placed the desire for more of Him inside of you.

READ PSALM 139: 1-18, ECCLESIASTES 3:11

St. Augustine says it this way, “'Because God has made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.”  A couple definitions of delight are- “to take great pleasure”, “to give joy or satisfaction”.  The next time you hear this verse that is so often used as leverage for God to give us what we want, remember what it is that your heart truly desires….more and more and more and more of Him. Your Creator.  Your Maker.  The Lover of your soul.