"The Desires of Our Hearts"

Meditation on Psalm 37

Oct. 6, 2013

“Do not fret because of the wicked;
   do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass,
   and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
   so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
   and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him;
   do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
   over those who carry out evil devices…
Our steps are made firm by the LORD,
   when he delights in our way;
though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,
   for the LORD holds us by the hand…
Depart from evil, and do good;
   so you shall abide for ever.
For the LORD loves justice;
   he will not forsake his faithful ones...” (Psalm 37, selected verses)

***
     I knew, by the time I was 4 years old, that I would be a writer.  I loved books.  The feel of them in my hand—how you opened the hard cover and turned the pages one be one.  I loved the pictures.  I even loved the way books smelled.

    As soon as I could hold a pencil in my hand, I began to write—first random letters across the page. And then my older sister taught me how to print my name.  Then easy words like “ball” and “cat.”
     
     I started writing stories and making books in kindergarten. My teacher gave us blank books that she made with wide-lined paper folded in half and stapled 3 or 4 times down the left side.  Often they had construction paper covers—red, blue, green, orange—depending on the theme, holiday or season. Sometimes the entire book was cut into a familiar shape—a baby chick, a Valentine heart, a Christmas bell, or a fall harvest apple or pumpkin.
   
      If my teacher didn’t happen to have a blank book, I made one of my own. Just give me paper, scissors, and a stapler—and I’ll get the job done!
   
     Some of you are probably thinking what a strange little girl I must have been.
   
     I probably was. But I was having fun.
   
     By the time I was in second grade, I discovered that not only did I like creative writing and making books—I liked standing up in front of the class and reading my stories out loud!
     
      I loved to see the expressions on the children’s faces as I read. I loved hearing them laugh.
     
       Oh.  And this is important. The main characters in the stories were always my classmates.  The stories were all about them!
     
       Yes, I knew by the time I was 4 years old that I would be a writer.

***
     David, the shepherd boy who slew Goliath and ruled as king of Israel, was also a writer.  So many of the Psalms, including Psalm 37, identify the writer or the one for whom the Psalm was written. Psalm 37, for example, begins, “Of David”—belonging to David.

      Now I doubt that David decided to be a writer when he was a little boy.  And many of the Psalms he created may not have even been written down during his lifetime.  Psalms were sung. They were Israel’s hymns.
     
      I am amazed that David, a king, was not embarrassed to reveal his thoughts and feelings—intimate conversations with the Lord—to all Israel through his songs. Though he lived thousands of years ago, David’s songs offer practical advice for us living in modern times who seek to live out our faith in our daily life.
   
      In Psalm 37, we hear a message of patience and trusting in the Lord.  Sometimes, we trust in the Lord to lead us to act, such as when he instructs, “Trust in the Lord, and do good, so you will live in the land and enjoy security.”
   
      Other times, we trust in the Lord to do His righteous work as we wait patiently on him.  We read, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
   
      The Psalmist encourages us not to be distracted by people whose lives are not lived in obedience to God. He urges us to stop worrying about what other people are doing.  Just pray!
   
     We read, “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.”

***
      When I was visiting with folks after the funeral yesterday, quite a few that I met for the first time wanted to know how long I have been here. They were surprised that I came such a distance to accept a call to ministry—more than 1200 miles.
   
      One lady exclaimed, “And you had never been to Minnesota before?! You must be brave!”
   
     I just smiled and said, “No, not really.”
   
     Later on, as I was reading Psalm 37 and preparing for today’s message, I wished that I had told her that I had trusted the Lord—and waited for him to show me His will. Because I did.
   
     I used to believe that when the psalmist tells us to delight in the Lord and he will give us the desires of our heart, what he meant was that God would give us what we wanted if we delighted in him.
   
     Now I understand what the psalmist really meant was that if we take delight in the Lord, the Lord’s desires will become our desires.  He will put his desires in our hearts and then those desires will lead us to accomplish His purposes.
   
     Looking back on our move to Minnesota, I remember being afraid. Feeling like this was a really big decision. But I also recall wanting to come. Caring about your church—and most of all, wanting to be obedient to the Lord and His Will.
   
     I believe that God placed in me a desire to come and be your pastor.  And then he gave me the desire of my heart.  He brought me here. I became your pastor.
     
     Yesterday, at the funeral, when I was telling the story of Coco and John and Donna, I had a flashback to when I was a little girl and used to stand up and share the stories I had written about my classmates.
     
      How I loved to watch the expressions on their faces.  How I loved to hear them laugh.
     
      How I was sure when I was 4 years old that I would be a writer.  And had no idea I would be a pastor.
     
      But God had planned it all along.
     
      My message to you, friends, is very simple.

      Let us learn to delight in the Lord.

      As we seek to do His will and be pleasing to Him, may the Lord's desires become ours.
 
      And then...

      May He give us all the desires of our hearts.

     
Let us pray.

Holy Lord, thank you for sacrificing your Son, Jesus Christ, and for giving us the desire to be forgiven by you and live eternally with you.  Lead us by your Spirit each day to delight only in you and your ways.  Place your desires in our hearts, Lord, so that we desire only your will. Give us the strength and courage to obey.  Teach us to be still and wait patiently on you.  To trust in you and do good.  In Christ we pray.  Amen.