Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
I will get right to the point this morning. We hear the second part of this
Psalm quoted more than the first part. We want the Lord to give us the
desires of our hearts. But there is a condition that is placed before that
promise is given. David gives us four steps to follow that gives us a life of
contentment and peace. The first step was given yesterday: "Trust in the
Lord." Today, we are told, "Delight thyself also in the Lord."
What does it mean when we are told to delight ourselves in the Lord? The root
meaning of the word, delight, carries the thought of being soft and pliable in
the hands of the Lord. You know an artist's eraser is very hard if you have
ever held one in your hand. Smears are made if you try to use it on charcoal
while it's in that state. The eraser must be worked in the hand of the artist
in order for it to fulfill its intended purpose. In other words, it has to be
pulled, twisted, heated, and put back together to make it soft and pliable.
Then, the hands of the artist can use it to correct any mistakes that have been
made.
My thought this morning asks this question: Can I expect the Lord to give me
the desires of my heart if it is hard and crusty? I find myself quite often
asking the Lord to take me and use me to His honor and for His glory, but that
is all for nought if I am bent toward my own will instead of His. Lord, you are
the potter and I am the clay. Lord, you are the artist and I am the hardened
eraser. Work me in your hands that I might be soft and pliable and workable
towards your will. When we can pray that prayer, we are delighting ourselves in
the Lord. We are usable and workable in His kingdom. I am ready to be used by
Him when I am in that state of heart and mind. Heavenly Father, please take me
and use me to your glory. Help me to be soft and moveable from my will and my
ways to your will and your way.
Help Me, by Larry Gatlin
Lord, Help me walk
another mile, just one more mile;
I′m tired of walkin' all alone.
Lord, Help me smile
another smile, just one more smile;
I know I just can′t make it on my own.
I never thought I needed help before;
I thought that I could do things by myself.
Now I know I just can't take it any more.
With a humble heart, on bended knee,
I'm beggin′ You, please, Help Me.