Tag Archives: desires of your heart

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Responsibility to Rest

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Psalm 37:1-8

Today’s passage promises, “[God] will give you the desires of your heart” (v. 4). But it also names three requirements for that promise: We must delight in the Lord, we should trust in His plan, and we need to rest in Him. Resting in the Lord is one of the hardest tasks we must undertake.

Resting may sound easy, but it requires supernatural courage, since in our human weakness, we tend to fret. Worry turns our minds away from delight and trust in the Lord. The three requirements are interrelated. We must enjoy spending time with God in order to learn to trust Him and commit to His way; our trust is absolutely essential to resting in Him; and we must be willing to rest in order to truly delight in Him.

Patiently waiting for the Lord to act is one of the supreme tests of our spiritual maturity. The stronger our desire is, the shorter our delay fuse. Sometimes we may desperately want to give God a timetable, but genuine, restorative rest occurs on His schedule. Only He understands every circumstance and knows the precise moment when answering our prayer will yield maximum benefit. We risk reaping disappointment, pain, and loss whenever we push ahead of His divine timeline.

Before you get out of bed each day, say a prayer like this one: Father, I want to thank You for giving me the desires of my heart. Today, I am going to delight myself in You, commit everything to You, and rest in the knowledge that You have everything under control. And I will wait for Your perfect timing. If you follow the guidance of Psalm 37, God will richly bless you.

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – The Blessings of Giving

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“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” —Malachi 3:10

Our money is a direct reflection of the priorities of our lives. We like to disconnect the two, but really they are very connected. Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34). We will invest in our passions. If you want to find out what a person’s interests are, then take a tour of their checkbook or expense account and see where they are spending their money.

Although some make more money than others and some are more successful than others, here is the thing we all need to keep in mind: We need to take what God has given us and be wise stewards over it, investing generously in the work of the kingdom of God. God will bless generosity.

Paul wrote, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’ ” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Some will say, “I can’t afford to give.” Really? I can’t afford not to give. Giving is not just for rich people; it is for all people. Everyone should invest in God’s kingdom. Here is something to consider: Maybe one of the reasons you are having financial struggles is because you have not honored the Lord in your giving.

Am I saying that if you give, then God will make you rich?

No, I am not saying that at all. But Scripture connects the two. Paul follows up 2 Corinthians 9:7 with this statement: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (verse 8).

Everyone should give. And as you give to the Lord, He will bless you for it.

 

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; P.G. – Not Like Any Other

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On Sesame Street, children play a comparing game where a number of items are placed in front of them and they’re told “one of these things is not like the others.”

Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.  Hebrews 3:6

The book of Hebrews invites you to compare the patriarchs, prophets and others to Jesus, reminding you often that the Son of God is “greater,” or “more,” or “above” the others. In Chapter 3, you consider Moses. Yes, Moses was faithful, but he was never elevated above being a servant of God who was shepherding the people of God.

Jesus, by contrast, isn’t just a caretaker of the Father’s house – He’s the builder. And as the builder of that spiritual household, He is faithful over it. Nothing will come upon His house without going through Him first: no storm; no trouble; no destruction.

As you acknowledge the faithfulness of Christ in your life today, thank Him that He is not like any other. Bring before Him the desires of your heart for the household of faith to expand, and to include even those in authority over you. And for those who are a part of that house, ask Him to do any “repairs” necessary for Him to present all therein to the Father one day soon.

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 3:1-14