Receiving What I Desire

Proverbs 10:24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

In these verses we see the connection between righteousness and receiving what we desire. Righteous people have righteous desires. They are controlled and governed in their hearts by God's law, which He has written there.

What are some righteous desires? Do I desire that I might have more love in my heart towards someone not so lovable? joy? peace? These Psalms tell me that my desires will be granted.

God's law has the effect of circular repetition. When I read and meditate upon His law, His Word, I find that I begin to desire what is holy and good. When I begin to desire what is holy and good, I find myself praying to God that I might follow and obey His law! My heart within me knows that in following God's law, I will receive what is holy and good, because this is God's nature and the way that He created us.

So there is this principle: goodness begets obedience, begets goodness, begets obedience, and I find that the whole person that I am is being brought into conformity to the image of God's Son, Romans 8:29.

What is my part and what is God's? God gives the new birth; I receive. God gives His Word; I read it and receive its teachings. God places His righteous desires in my heart; I receive those by straining forward to obey His law. My part is to read His Word. Simply by reading it, His Spirit washes me and cleanses me of my unrighteousness. By reading His Word, I am taught what is good and what is not. When I desire what is good, God will hear and answer my prayer!

What a precious cycle of life!

-----------------

Oh, Lord, what I desire more than anything else right now is peace--Your peace and Your contentment. Grant me, Father, to obey Your command. Thank-You for Your written Word, for salvation in Jesus Christ, and for Your Holy Spirit within me to help me obey what is pleasing to You. In Your name, Amen.