by Jordyn van Gaalen

Aligning Our Hearts With God’s Desires

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

My husband and I are in another stage of decision making. We once again find ourselves at a crossroads with various paths before us. Since we’ve been working and moving seasonally throughout our marriage, we find ourselves in this position quite often.

I honestly hate decision making, especially when it feels like it could determine the rest of our lives. (This is dramatic, I know, but at times, it feels true.) I find myself asking God for a direct answer. I want Him to tell me exactly what to do with a giant billboard or neon sign. Or maybe even a step-by-step blueprint mailed directly to me. But so far it hasn’t worked out that way.

“Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 New International Version

This verse used to confuse me. It initially sounded like it’s saying God will indulge in MY vain yearnings, passions, cravings which doesn’t sound anything like God to me, especially knowing the wisdom and maturity I lack. Half the time I don’t even know what I really “desire.” Maybe if I actually knew my desires, this whole decision making thing wouldn’t be so difficult.

But then I heard this verse explained something like this: God will align YOUR desires with HIS. 

Now that made a lot more sense to me. God is in the constant process of changing our hearts. In this process, our desires will become about glorifying HIM. As we learn to delight in Him, as we come to know who Christ is, God will shape our hearts to be more like Him. With the Holy Spirit working inside us, our emotions, thoughts, motivations, and actions will be in tune with God’s perfect love. These desires that the Psalmist speaks of will be satisfied in Him alone. 

So in each crossroad I come to, in each decision I make, I pray that God will place these desires in my heart. The desire to love as He has first loved us. That each step in this journey will be about bringing glory to His Holy Name. And that each decision making process will be an opportunity to grow in our relationship and in our communication.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado