Heart's Desire

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. -- Psalm 119:18 NIV

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. -- Psalm 37:4 NIV

One of the things that has always struck me about the Bible is how it describes things in a way that, on the surface, may seem a little backwards. People who don't really want to investigate and learn more might say this is where the Bible tries to contradict itself. The first verse above is one such verse. We don't think of the law as enjoyable, usually. We think of it as THE LAW. Law means rules and restrictions. It constricts us into a certain way of living...and that doesn't suit our nature. We're created to be free spirits, joyous spirits. We want to do things that bring us joy. It's what we most desire. So how could we possibly find wonderful things in God's law? It doesn't make sense at first glance, does it?

They key to this, and just maybe to everything is in the second verse. "Delight in the Lord", the Psalmist says and experience joy...the joy we so desperately seek. What if delighting in the Lord meant that we would be in line with His law, and that would mean we would see the wonderful things that make up that law? What if the joy we spend our lives searching for has always been within our grasp?

I guess a lot of people see a relationship with Jesus and belief in God as restrictive and cumbersome, that it leads to a life of hardship and suffering. Life does contain its share of hardship and suffering no matter the condition of your faith. The difference between a person who knows Jesus intimately and one who doesn't is that a Christ follower's heart is filled a level of joy and peace that is quite capable of weathering any storm the world can throw at it. It's the confident knowledge that the Lord's blessings will continue to fall upon us, both on Earth and in Heaven.

The desires of your heart are a heartbeat away...and both joy and peace through any circumstance come with it.