I often wonder about Psalm 37:4, which says if I delight myself in God, he will give me the desires of my heart. Well, I delight in God, I sit in his presence and bask in his glow with delight. Yet my desires seem to sit idle, waiting. I came upon this verse a few weeks ago, and things kind of clicked into place.
Romans 8:5-6 ~ "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace ... "
Sin is a tricky thing. I have my heart surrendered to Christ, but there's this sinful nature that I cannot seem to shake. I wish I could say once I gave myself to Jesus, I was able to live in constant obedience to him and to the Spirit. Sadly, I still obey my sinful nature more than I want to admit.
If I am not in complete surrender to the Spirit, then my desires will not line up with what the Spirit desires. My mind will be focused on what my flesh desires. I still allow my sinful nature to control my thoughts, my mind, despite the fact that I am no longer a slave to it. In those moments, I realize how desperately I want my mind controlled by the Spirit. I want to live in constant accordance with the Spirit.
Maybe God does not give me all the desires of my heart because I am not living as one whose mind is controlled by the Spirit. I do not have this peace of desires met because I am still holding back from relinquishing complete control.
But I will loosen my grip. I will let go of this control and give it to the Spirit. May we all live in accordance with the Spirit, having a mind filled with life and peace.
