Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told God’s gonna make all my dreams come true – but is that actually what it says in the Bible? I mean, take Psalm 37:4, for instance – everyone’s always throwing that one around, like it’s some kinda guarantee we’ll get everything we want, no questions asked. Thing is, though, I’ve started thinking about what ‘delighting in the Lord’ really means – is it just a couple fancy words, or is there more to it? So I figured, why not dig in and see if we can’t uncover what’s really going on in that verse.
Top 5 Bible Verses About Where In The Bible Does It Say God Will Give You The Desires Of Your Heart
Honestly, every so often I stumble upon something that makes me wanna dig deeper, ya know? I’d say these particular scripture verses are a pretty solid starting point. They kinda add some extra depth to the convo and have made me go, “huh, never thought of it that way” on more than one occasion…
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Figuring Out What This Verse Means
Taking a Harder Look at Psalm 37:4
I gotta say, that first time I read Psalm 37:4 it was like I could breath again – it was like God himself saying he’d make my dreams come true. But the more I thought about it, and read it over again, I started to think there was probably more to it than just ‘be happy and god will make you rich’.
It says in the bible:
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
From where I was standing, it looked pretty simple – just be all about god, and He’ll hook you up. But I’ve been wondering what it actually means to be all about god, you know – to delight in him. Is that like a warm fuzzy feeling or is there more to it than that.
What Psalm 37:4 Really Matters Theologically
Psalm 37:4 is part of this bigger thing David wrote that basically boils down to having faith and doing what you’re told. He’s pretty much just trying to tell everyone to have faith in God, even if bad people seem like they’re getting away with stuff right now. So it’s not just ‘be happy’, but more like a call to arms – he’s saying act a certain way and feel a certain way about God and he’ll look after you.
People that know more about this than me say this verse is super important because it talks about what we want versus what God wants. It’s not ‘God, I’ll do whatever – just make me successful/rich/hot etc’ it’s more like, if we hang out with God enough, we start seeing things from his perspective – we’ll think things and want things that are in line with what God is trying to do.
It’s Really Important We Know What Was Going On Back When This Was Written
Thing is, we could just lift Psalm 37:4 straight out of the bible and make it say what we want, but when we find out all the stuff surrounding this verse we can see its about making our friendship with God solid as a rock. Not just about getting god to do stuff.
Apparently back then ‘delighting’ in God wasn’t like how it sounds – it was more to do with doing what he wants and trusting him implicitly. I’m pretty sure whats going on is the Psalms just wrote down God – so getting your heart in with his was how that was done.
When I pondered the verse for a bit – there was something Augustine once said –
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
Can we ‘delight’ ourselves in God without hoping he’s some divine piggybank. I guess the idea of what we really want – we can re-figure out that according to what God says is best, we’re already at peace because God made us as his home.
The Meaning of ‘Delight in the Lord’
What it means to delight in the Lord
Honestly, for me ‘delighting in the Lord’ used to just be a church thing – show up on a Sunday and that’s it. Then, after digging around in the bible a bit, it became super clear that there’s heaps more to it.
The Bible says,
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
This verse is quoted everywhere like some kinda magic promise from God – ‘I’ll give you whatever you want, just ask me nice’. To be frank, think that’s just a rubbish way of understanding it – to truly delight in the lord isn’t about wishing and getting; it’s about properly taking joy in him.
Imagine the nice restaurants you go to – sometimes you rock up just ’cause someone asked you out or whatever… then there’s the ones you pick ’cause actually, their food is pretty unreal. When we’re actually enjoying the lord, we’re not just along for the ride, we’re really feeling the vibe.
How to delight in the Lord in daily life
So I found myself asking… what does delighting in the lord even look like – on like a day-to-day basis, you know? Well, on a super basic level it just means I choose to chill with him more often. That looks like flipping through my bible some, firing up some prayers, or plain and simple, just sitting back and knowing he’s around… I sussed it and started doing this bit.
The reality’s, I’ve still got off-days sometimes, when honestly, doing that’s the last thing I want, but what can I say, there’s those other days it feels so right to just pause, be and listen for the presence of God.
It makes a real difference I got to say… those days when I take time, it brings this stability to life.
The famous theologian, C.S. Lewis, once said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” That one quote alone stands out so bold to me because I mean it says so rawly: in our despair God lets us know by raw emotion what even our tiny thoughts actually say he is sharing messages so in all of my pain at least he wants all sides in open conversation with us.
The significance of delighting in the Lord in relation to the desires of one’s heart
Now if you’re truly seeking to go with the Lord where could all your wants and wishes look. In a space where you choose just enjoying the relationship with him and take proper calm on their days… gradually a major sense starts influencing your desires so now desires are fully what truly matter.
Honestly its not like God lets you do anything- no holds barred; more honestly I feel I saw he just slowly swaps desires all more like his would match my hopes because. Your one loving wish as what could form good relationship.
As the Bible says,
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, KJV).
Sometimes we know in very plain text God is getting something perfectly good our way, loving love and getting something no wrong can happen even when that road seems pretty narrow sometimes
Getting What You Want Out of Life
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Making God My Top Priority
Walking with God is a commitment thing. Like, I gotta want it, and He’s gotta be the one I run to when stuff gets real.
Bible says,
“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
That part that says “delight thyself in the Lord”, it’s not like just showing up to church, you feel? It’s more about actually looking forward to chillin’ with God and figuring out more about Him.
Why Trust and Obedience Matter
Wanting something from God means trusting that He knows what’s up and actually doing what He says. Problem is, we tend to wanna call the shots ourselves.
But then you got Proverbs 3:5-6 saying,
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (KJV).
How to Get What I Really Want
So yeah, how do we get what we want from God, for real? For me, it starts with handing over what I want to Him in prayer.
Philippians 4:6-7 is like,
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (KJV).
When I let go and let God deal with what I want, I’m basically asking Him to show me if it’s cool with Him, you know? And if it’s not, He’ll probably change what I want to match what He’s got in mind, which is way better. That’s where life gets real good – when what we want is what God wants too.
Figuring Out the Verse in the Bigger Picture of the Bible
More Bible verses that got me thinking about what we really want
As I start to unpick what Psalm 37:4 means, other bits of the Bible come to mind – the ones that bang on about what our hearts are hankering after.
The Bible says,
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
Thing is, there’s other stuff that seems to be at odds with this. Like in Matthew 16:24, Jesus is all,
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24, KJV).
Sounds like following Jesus is all about giving up the things we want, if you ask me.
So how do we squar that with what it says in Psalm 37:4?
Getting Your Head Around Psalm 37:4 and Other Bible Verses That Mention the Not-so-Good Times
From what I make of it, we gotta understand our desires ain’t always what we really need.
We might be after something, but that don’t mean it’s best for us.
And then the Bible chimes in with,
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV).
Makes me think my emotions can be right dodgy and unpredictable at times.
So when Psalm 37:4 goes on about God giving us what we desire, I reckon it’s more about the stuff that’s on the same page as what He wants for us, rather than our own selfish wants.
Why Psalm 37:4 Matters in the Wider Scheme of the Bible
Looking at the big picture of the Bible, Psalm 37:4 seems like a wee reminder God’s a good Dad who’s pretty stoked to bless us.
I mean, take this one for instance,
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV).
It’s like, right, things might be going mental, but according to this, God’s got my back, yeah?
And when it comes to Psalm 37:4, I’m sorted, see? Just gotta keep the faith and have a bash at delighting in Him and whatnot. Timing-wise, I’ve got no control over it whatsoever, but I’m sorted, no worries.
Common Misconceptions about Psalm 37:4
The Idea that God’ll Give You Anything You Want, No Questions Asked
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard Psalm 37:4 quoted – and, more often than not, it’s along the lines of “God’s gonna grant all your heart’s desires.” But is that really the intended message? I think we’re missing something here…
The Bible says,
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
On face value, this looks like an all-access pass, a direct hotline to the big guy upstairs – we delight in Him, and voila! Our deepest longings get handed to us on a silver platter. Except that’s not how it plays out.
Growing up, my interpretation of this verse went a bit like this: pray real hard, be good, and I’d get rewarded with everything I ever wanted. Seemed like a solid plan at the time… Problem is, this whole take revolves around getting what we want rather than genuinely ‘delighting’ in God.
That Psalm 37:4 is a Guarantee for Success and Prosperity, No Strings Attached
There’s another thing people get wrong – the idea that Psalm 37:4 is this magic wand that’ll get you all the stuff you ever dreamed of. The whole package deal – wealth, health, the lot. Not quite what we’re dealing with here, if you ask me.
You only need to take a glance at the Bible to find folk who were devoted to God yet had their fair share of hardship and tribulations. Remember Job? The dude lost everything but still remained firm in his faith? Or how about the apostle Paul? He copped his fair share of beatings, imprisonments, and even shipwrecks… Yet still, he made it his business to preach the Good News like it was going out of fashion.
How About Using Psalm 37:4 to Justify Those Selfish Demands?
But I reckon there’s a third concept floating around that’s real problematic: people using Psalm 37:4 as some kind of ace in the hole to justify what’s pretty much just self-serving. So the thought goes that if I just chant some lines in Jesus’ name and maybe close my eyes for good measure, well, my every whim will magically come into being, and that’s just not how it goes down.
The Bible says,
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3, KJV).
Takes me back to that old addage – the prayer without the life commitment required to actually execute what’s required, so I just ask and don’t get because really all I want is to spend what He’s gonna send me on all the sorts of lust-driven cravings and wild eyed choices we put well above this so-call solemn commitement called (choosing to) seeking His very actual heartbeat by getting put to myself out there away on dusty death-ridden by-ways with good times over long dinner tables dancing in our moonstruck shadows’ quiet of day rather than my very own choice’s pure willingness be open as time.
Figuring Out Psalm 37:4 in My Life
Trying to Make Decisions That Fit with What God Wants
When I think about Psalm 37:4, I realize God isn’t saying I can have whatever I want just ’cause I want it – He’s actually asking me to make sure what I want lines up with what He’s got planned.
The Bible says,
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4, KJV).
For me, this verse is like, a big ol’ hint to seek God out for guidance and wisdom instead of just doing whatever feels right at the time. Don’t get me wrong, I got my own ideas and stuff, but the Bible’s saying I should check in with God first.
Putting My Faith in God When We Don’t See Eye-to-Eye
Thing is, it’s not always easy trusting God with what I want when it seems like we’re on different pages. That’s why I gotta check my motives, you know – see if I’m just wanting stuff ’cause I want it or if it’s actually part of God’s plan. And sometimes I gotta ask God to show me where I’m getting it wrong.
Augustine of Hippo said something that always sticks with me:
“Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.”
When I let go of my own wants and let God take the wheel, it’s like this weight’s lifted off my shoulders and I feel more at peace than I ever could’ve on my own.
Getting God’s Take on Things
Okay, so how do we make Psalm 37:4 work in our everyday lives? Few things that work for me:
- Take a hot minute to look at what you want and why you want it, then ask God to point out if you’re off track.
- Try to get God’s take on things before making any big decisions.
- Trust that God’s got a better plan than you do, and He’s gonna come through when you put Him first.
I’m not gonna lie, this whole trusting-God-with-my-wants thing is a journey, not something I just magically get right one day. It’s a process that takes time, effort, and a willingness to listen. But in the end, I’m starting to get that it’s all worth it – my life’s becoming this amazing thing that’s actually on track with what God’s got in store for me, and that’s pretty dang cool.
What Do You Think?
How does this Bible verse connect with your life? Leave a comment with your insights or questions. Let’s discuss its relevance together!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Where In The Bible Does It Say God Will Give You The Desires Of Your Heart
What Bible verse says God will give you the desires of your heart?
I’ve always found solace in Psalm 37:4, where it’s written, ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.’ To be honest, I think this verse is more about putting God first and trusting that He’ll sort out the rest.
How to claim Psalm 37:4 for the desires of your heart?
This verse has been a lifesaver for me, you know? So, the way I see it, you gotta focus on loving God and doing His thing, and He’ll plant desires in your heart that are in line with His plan. After that, just pray for those desires, knowing He’s good and all that – and that He’s actually interested in making your deepest wishes come true.
What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord to get the desires of your heart?
Personally, I think taking delight in God means hanging out with Him, finding peace, and just trusting that He knows what’s up. When that happens, I reckon He starts to shape my desires so they’re more in tune with what He wants – and then He makes ’em happen, and I end up feeling pretty happy about it all.
Matt Turner
I’m Matt, and I love breaking down Bible verses in a way that’s easy to understand and apply to everyday life. My goal is to help you connect with God’s Word and find practical ways to live it out. Whether you’re new to the Bible or just looking for some fresh insights, I’m here to walk with you and share what I’ve learned along the way.