{"id":1209,"date":"2010-08-08T01:06:22","date_gmt":"2010-08-08T01:06:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/08\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-your-hearts-desires.html"},"modified":"2010-08-08T01:06:22","modified_gmt":"2010-08-08T01:06:22","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-your-hearts-desires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/08\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-your-hearts-desires.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling<\/em>: Your Heart’s Desires"},"content":{"rendered":"
READ Psalm 37:1-40<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

\nTake delight in the LORD,
     and he will give you your heart’s desires.
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 37:4<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Psalm
\n37:4 is one of those verses that Christians can twist to suit their own
\nfancy. I have heard some preachers claim, on the basis of this verse,
\nthat God will give us anything we want. If we simply “claim it,” God
\nwill give us mansions, yachts, luxury cars, and, well, you name it. To
\nbe sure, God can and does bless us materially. But if we argue from
\nPsalm 37:4 that “God will give you anything you want,” we miss the
\nwhole point of the verse. <\/p>\n

Yes, this verse does promise that
\nthe Lord “will give you your heart’s desires.” But notice the context.
\nThat promise comes after an imperative: “Take delight in the LORD.” If
\nwe put our delight in God, then he will give us the desires of our
\nheart.<\/p>\n

How does this happen? It isn’t some kind of divine system
\nof rewards. Psalm 37:4 does not mean that if we enjoy God, he will
\ndecide to reward us by giving us all the luxuries we want. Rather, if
\nwe delight in God, if we focus on God’s nature, if we love God with all
\nthat we are, we’ll discover that the desires of our heart will be
\ntransformed. We will stop being so concerned about our own “stuff,”
\neven our own well-being. Instead, we will start to yearn for the things
\nof God, for his truth and peace, for his justice and mercy. Our desires
\nwill begin to reflect God’s own desires for us and for this world. Thus
\nwe will want what God wants, and he will give that which is according
\nto his will.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the more we take delight in the Lord, the
\nmore we will discover that what we desire most of all is a truer and
\nmore vital relationship with him. Strangely enough, intimacy with God
\nboth satisfies our deepest longing and intensifies that longing. So as
\nwe learn to enjoy God’s presence, our heart’s desires will be
\nincreasingly focused on God. We will seek him above all and, by his
\ngrace, find him. Thus God will give us the desires of our heart . . .
\nfor more of him!<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>: When
\nhave you delighted in God? What helps you to enjoy God’s presence? How
\nhas your relationship with God shaped the desires of your heart? <\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>:
\nO Lord, there is nothing better than delighting in you. To be with you
\nand enjoy your presence are magnificent beyond words. Thank you for
\nmaking yourself available to me, so that I might taste and see that you
\nare good.<\/p>\n

O Lord, help me to delight in you more consistently. I
\nam so easily distracted. I can let the things and demands of my life
\nget in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me, Lord. By your
\nmercy, increase my desire for you. Augment my delight in you by
\nrevealing yet more of yourself to me. <\/p>\n

I ask you, dear Lord, to
\nalign my desires according to the ways of your own heart. May I want
\nwhat you want. May I seek that which is consistent with your will. Let
\nyour will guide my prayers, my actions, my words, and my desires.<\/p>\n

All
\npraise be to you, gracious God, because you give me the desires of my
\nheart. Most of all, you give me the inestimable gift of relationship
\nwith you. Hallelujah! Amen<\/em>. <\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"high-calling-screenshot-4.jpg\"<\/span>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . . <\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

READ Psalm 37:1-40   Take delight in the LORD,      and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4 Psalm 37:4 is one of those verses that Christians can twist to suit their own fancy. I have heard some preachers claim, on the basis of this verse, that God will give us anything we want.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: Your Heart's Desires - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}