Delight Yourself in the Lord
By Marty Schutte | 5/15/2020

This past week while studying, I was led to read Psalm 37. I usually stay right on course with my daily studies. But I was pulled to the Psalm and while reading it I knew this would be the subject base I would use for this morning’s devotional.

The 37th Psalm within it some great advice for us when we feel that we were not treated fairly or when we see the wicked prosper while we don’t. I highly recommend that you read the entire Psalm if this is a season of life you are dealing with right now.

But hidden within this Psalm, actually right before us is a message that I cling to, preach about and hold near to my heart.

Psalm 37:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

In verse 3 we find excellent instructions on daily living. Trust in the Lord and do good. That one is simple enough and we would all do well in heeding the advice from God’s Word.

In Verse 4 We are given the advice or decree to delight yourself in the Lord. This means we are to exalt Him so highly that we pursue Him over and above any other person, thing, thought, or action in our lives, especially those things that would knock Him out of first place.

The next part of that verse will sometimes be used to play “Let’s Make A Deal With God.” Our heart might desire a new duck boat and an Escalade to pull it with, or a better job, or in my case to be taller. But in fact, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He becomes the desire of our hearts and nothing else will satisfy us (Not even a new duck boat). To be closer and closer to God becomes our pursuit and the desires of life soon become ones that cannot knock God out of first place in our hearts.

How do we do this? Trust in the Lord to lead us for His names sake. Be in the Word daily to mine from it the gold within each page. Admit that at times we have made God small and have treated Him like a buddy or Santa Clause. Once we realize the God is much larger and greater than we imagine in our feeble minds, we desire to be closer to Him and want more of a God that cannot be measured. Our behavior changes. Our speech changes. Our reason to go to work changes. Our attitudes toward others and our capacity to love changes. We forgive quicker and we sacrifice more for others. This byproduct of “Delighting In The Lord” and His goodness leads us to desire more of our awesome God.

God Bless. 

Marty