Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
I love this verse!
This verse is not a verse saying God will give you the desires of your heart. Just because you want something doesn’t mean you need it.
The key is in the word delight.
The word for delight has a root meaning of being pliable, pampered, or dainty.
You can shape or form something that is pliable. You cannot just delight yourself and do whatever it is you want to do. You must delight yourself in the Lord, that is, become pliable to God and allow Him to shape and form you.
You allow God to pamper you.
As you become pliable to God and allow Him to pamper you, I dare say the desires of your heart change.
The things you once desired seem to fade as He pampers you in Him.
As Paul said it, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:10-13
Some of the things Paul mentioned – hunger, suffering, and abasement do not seem pleasant. But because Paul delighted in the Lord, he was content.
Paul also said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim 6:6