Psalms 37:4(KJV) states, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Boy, that’s a pretty good promise from the Lord, isn’t it? If we will just delight ourselves in Him and behave like good little boys and girls, then we can make ourselves a wish list and start checking off all the wonderful stuff God magically gives us! Too bad it doesn’t work that way, huh? No, the Bible isn’t lying when it gives us this promise. We just fail to take into account that He is God and that He can change the desires of our heart.
I heard Brother Richard King use an illustration regarding this. He said, “Little Johnny was a Christian and so was his school teacher. Toward the end of the day he lost his favorite marble. Knowing his teacher was a Christian too; he went to her and asked her if she would pray with him that he would find his marble. She told him she would. The next morning she reluctantly asked Little Johnny if he found his marble. He replied, ‘No. But God took away my desire for it!’” I believe there is quite a lesson for us to learn from Little Johnny. Often, God doesn’t give us the desires of our heart – He changes the desires of our hearts!
Several years ago Garth Brooks recorded a song entitled: “Unanswered Prayers.” A portion of the lyrics say, “Just the other night at a hometown football game, my wife and I ran into my old high school flame. And as I introduced them the past came back to me and I couldn’t help but think of the way things used to be. She was the one that I’d wanted for all times. And each night I’d spend prayin’ that God would make her mine and if He’d only grant me this wish I wished back then I’d never ask for anything again … Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers!” Another portion of the lyrics say, “… Just because He may not answer doesn’t mean He don’t care. Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
Through the years, it’s amazing how God can change the desires of your heart. I’m thankful that on many occasions God has changed the desires of my heart instead of answering my prayer the way I wanted. As a young man I wanted fame and fortune. These days I find myself desiring peace and quiet. And as I heard someone say, when gasoline was $4 per gallon, “I don’t want to be rich. I just want enough money so that I can pull up to the pump and not worry about having enough money to fill up the tank!”
When Marianne and I started raising our children I wanted them to be successful. Today I have a different perspective as to what success means. Back then I thought it meant becoming highly educated, rubbing elbows with the right people, and climbing the corporate ladder. Today I realize that being successful means being at peace with and loving God, your family, your friends, and yourself. It means providing for your own. It means being the person God designed us to be. It means to love and to be loved.
When I first started my journey, my prayer was that God would let me win every race in life. Today, regardless of what place I finish, I just want to finish well.
It’s funny how God has worked in my heart the same thing He did with little Johnny and his marble. There are many things Jesus hasn’t given me in life. However, he has taken away my desire for them. And, oh yea, there are many prayers that I earnestly prayed that I thank God He didn’t answer! How about you?
Brother Aaron
To schedule Brother Aaron to preach a Sunday service at your church, a revival meeting, or a special event, you may contact him at: 1-800-511-9536, 706-302.9162, or e-mail: freshfire@mindspring.com
