Arsenal of the King International Ministries
By Chaplain Johnson
The Beautiful Truth Hidden in Psalm 37:4
How God Changes Our Desires Through Delighting in Him
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
— Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
For years, many have understood this verse to mean that if we delight in God, He will give us whatever we desire.
But is that really what David is saying?
As I reflected on this passage, a beautiful truth emerged.
The greatest miracle is not that God gives us what we want.
The greatest miracle is that He changes our hearts.
When we first come to Christ, many of our desires are centered on ourselves. We pray for what we want, what we fear, and what we hope to receive.
Yet the Holy Spirit does not leave us unchanged.
HE TRANSFORMS US
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Christ continually renews us as we draw closer to Him.
God’s purposes are far greater than simply granting our wishes. He is not a man. He is the Eternal Creator, the Master of the universe, and through Christ He lives within every believer.
Hallelujah!
As we delight in Him, He shapes our hearts until our desires begin to reflect His.
The Holy Spirit transforms our minds, our hearts, and our lives. He changes our desires until they increasingly resemble the heart of Christ.
We were made for something far greater than pursuing our own desires. The King of Glory desires to transform us completely, because His desires are far better than ours.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
God has wonderful things prepared for His children.
Psalm 37:4 is not simply saying,
“If I delight in God, He will give me whatever I want.”
Rather, it reveals the beautiful work of sanctification.
No one can transform themselves spiritually. Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish that miracle.
As we delight in Christ, He changes us.
He changes us through the power of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
“…if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you…”
— Romans 8:9 (KJV)
God Himself lives within His children.
Hallelujah!
The Word of God also declares,
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
We are transformed into His image by the Holy Spirit.
Our loves change.
Our priorities change.
Our hearts become more like His.
Then, often without even realizing it, we begin desiring what He desires.
When a believer truly delights in Christ, every part of life begins to be molded by Him.
When Christ becomes our delight:
- We do not stop having desires.
- Our desires are redeemed.
- They become increasingly aligned with His heart.
That does not mean every desire we have automatically becomes God’s will.
Instead, we surrender our desires to Jesus with open hands and pray,
“Not my will, but Thine, be done.”
As He sanctifies us, our hearts long for the things that please Him.
God is not satisfied with giving us only small things.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
— Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)
Can you imagine?
The Master of all creation is miraculously transforming us.
Instead of asking,
“Lord, how can You fulfill my desires?”
our hearts begin asking,
“Lord, how can my desires bring You glory?”
Our earthly nature is continually being transformed into the likeness of Christ.
We lovingly hold every dream, every plan, and every desire before Him and say,
“Not my will, but Thine, be done.”
Paul beautifully explains this truth:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
God not only empowers us to do His will—
He also changes what we desire.
That is His work.
That is His grace.
That is the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.
Again, Scripture reminds us:
“…are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV)
Conclusion
Christ, the Treasure of Heaven, becomes the greatest desire of our hearts.
As our delight in Him grows, we discover that He Himself is the greatest desire we could ever possess.
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”
— Psalm 73:25 (KJV)
Then Psalm 37:4 takes on an even richer meaning.
God is not merely giving us the desires of our hearts.
He is transforming our hearts until Christ Himself becomes our greatest desire.
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
— Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
Christ lives in you.
The King of Glory lives in you.
Praise the Lord!
Through His sanctifying work, He transforms our hearts, our minds, and our desires into the likeness of His Son.
The greatest gift is not that God fulfills every earthly dream.
The greatest gift is that He changes us until Jesus Christ Himself becomes the greatest desire of our hearts.
Jesus gave His life for you.
He gave His everything.
Now He invites you to give Him everything.
When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He changes us from the inside out.
Our desires become His desires.
Our hearts become more like His heart.
Our lives become centered on His glory.
When Christ becomes our greatest delight, He Himself becomes the greatest desire of our hearts.
Praise God.
If this message has blessed you, please like, share, and follow Arsenal of the King International Ministries as we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations.
“Freely ye have received, freely give.” — Matthew 10:8 (KJV)
Reverend Cassia
International Director for Arsenal of the King.
Arsenal of the King International Ministries 