A lot of people may be familiar with the following Scripture: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4) Some singles know this verse by heart, and stand on it as they believe God for a mate. As I sign books across the country, I often inscribe that very Scripture next to my signature. People
shout and praise God about it, because most believe it is saying that as long as we praise God and have joy in Him, then He will give us our heart’s desire. However, this Scripture is saying a lot more than that.
The word, “delight,” in the original Hebrew is anag, which means to be soft or pliable.
The definition of the word pliable, according to Webster’s Dictionary 1828 edition means to bend, be flexible,
and to be readily yielding to moral influence. The moral influence that you, as a believer, would yield to in this
passage of Scripture is God. So delighting yourself in the Lord means more than being happy in Him, it means
being flexible and readily yielding to His authority as you seek the Lord in prayer. As you
obey and serve Him, and allow His will and not your will to be done, then will He bless
you with the desires, or secret petitions of your heart.
Also, the dictionary definition of the word, “give,” in Psalm 37:4 means to transfer,
to grant, and to impart. As you seek God’s face by reading and meditating His Word
(Joshua 1:8), by worshipping Him (John 4:23), and by praying consistently
(1 Thessalonians 5:17), your mind becomes renewed as you become more like Him
everyday as you continue to abide in Him. I believe in doing so, God will transfer,
or impart those desires in you – which are ultimately His desires- as you grow in your
relationship with God and desire what He wants for your life. And He desires to bless
you exceeding abundantly above all you could ever ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in you (Ephesians 3:20)!