“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

That sounds awesome that the LORD will give the desires of your heart. Thing is- that’s the second clause. The first is to “Take delight in the LORD.” To rejoice in the Lord. To treasure and cherish the LORD.

The human heart is fickle and not to be trusted, The human heart is bound by sin. (1) We often do not have the love and adoration of God in our hearts (Jn 5:42).

We are transformed “because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Rom 5:5) (2)

Only when the LORD redeems and replaces our heart can we desire the LORD (Ezek 11:19). Only when we have the LORD as the desire of our heart will all our other desires be properly aligned as subordinate and insignificant.

We rely on the LORD to direct and strengthen our hearts in faith (1 Thess 3:13, 2 Thess 2:17, 3:15) When we commit our heart and our way to the LORD, he will take care of our every other need (Psalm 37:1-17)

Notes:

(1. Gen 6:5, Num 15:39, Ps 5:9, Ps 10:3, Ps 58:2, PS 64:6, Ps 95:10,  Isa 32:6, Mt 9:4, Mt 12:34, Mt 15:8-19, John 5:42, Rom 1:21-22, Rom 2:5, 1 Cor 4:5, Eph 4:18, Heb 3:10-15, Jam 3:14)

(2. Ps 119:36, Jer 31:33, Ezek 11:19, 36:26, Cor 1:22, 2 Cor 3:3, 2 Cor 4:6, Gal 4:6, Eph 3:17, 1 Jn 3:20)

Job 13:15–16 – “I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!”

Job had the audacity to argue his case before the LORD.

He is irritated by his friends offering dead platitudes and proverbs of ashes that he needed to repent more and try harder on behalf of the living God.

the amazing truth.

Job says even though God will slay me I will hope in God.

God will bring an end to our self striving, sin enslaved wriggling spiritual corpse.

No person without God would dare to appeal to God and let their God-denying self be slated. Rather rant and rail and flee from in terror, the person of God has the audacity to confront God only to be confronted. Only children who belong to the Father will have the audacity to whine and complain to the Father who loves them and recognize God will judge us in his righteousness AND – wait for it – and set us free from sin, make us his own and cause us to know and love the Son. (John 8:33-47)

John 8:31–32 (NIV): Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The teaching of Jesus is not a new set of rules or behavior modifications. Jesus taught, “I am the Son of God the Father.” I am doing the Father’s will. Every thing I say and do is through the power of God.

So then comes the kicker. If you don’t believe in me you will die in your sins.

If turn and believe in Christ you will have new life. Just that simple.

Simple but challenging every day.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8.12

The ways of the world are always cloudy. Murky. Incomplete. No human source can be the light.

Christ is the light because his love for you is complete and total. Christ is the light because his work on the cross is complete and total.

Christ is the light because his Resurrection and the gift of His Spirit is complete and total.

What other light can you follow that will protect you from the darkness of this world and bless you?

”If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
someone to remove God’s rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more.” (Job 9:33–34).

In this life we live under the constant barrage of the consequences of sin. The chastisement of sin impinges upon our relationships, our self-image, our physical health and our faith. So we fear God.
Job laments how we need a mediator. Someone to bring us together with God. Someone to remove God’s chastisement from us. We are in terror over this life – if we live without a mediator, an advocate.
Peter tells Cornelius and us that God announced “the good news of [shalom] peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” (Acts 10:36)  God raised Christ from the dead and appointed him “appointed as judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42)   1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:19-20, Heb 8:6, 9:15, 12:24)
Praise to God that we have Jesus Christ who delivers us from the terror of sin (Isa 53:4-5) and enables us to have access to God and speak without fear (Heb 4:16, Rom 5:2, Eph 3:12, 1 John 4:17).

Jesus went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” John 6.65

You cannot make rain from scratch. Neither can you make air nor light. You can’t even make rocks from scratch. If you can’t make what is inanimate and earthly, can you make what is spiritual and life? Only God can give life to what is dead. Only God can create faith in you.

So what does that mean? You pray for rain. You give thanks for life. So too you must absolutely ask God for faith; faith that brings you into God’s life. Psalm 5:7 – “by your great love, I can come into your house; [into your presence]” Pray constantly for faith trusting in God’s great love.

“be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.”

Acts 9.17-18

Wow! Be filled with the Holy Spirit?! The Lord gives His Spirit to me. What an incredible gift! Yet I struggle to have the scales drop not just from my eyes but from my heart. Oh to live pulsating with the Joy of God. To see clearly each and every moment of my day in God’s grace. The Lord has given me the Spirit already. Now Lord let me feel filled up by the Spirit.