“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4, AMP)
For many children, especially in the U.S., Christmas is a time of long-awaited anticipation, joy and excitement and the fulfillment of deep desires. I remember I could hardly sleep on Christmas Eve. Along with my brother and sister, I would get up early and run to the living room to go see what Santa left under the tree – to see if he left my heart’s desire. As the firstborn son and oldest grandchild, I always made a big list of things I was hoping for. I counted on mom and dad, grandparents and even Santa to check my list and make sure everything I wanted was under the tree.
Oh if life could always be like our childhood memories of Christmas! What if we really could make a list of the things we long for and wake up one day to discover our desires sitting under the tree wrapped in colorful paper and a big bow? I’ve come to learn that as Christians, we can look forward to experiencing the same anticipation, excitement and sense of fulfillment every day. When we commit to find sheer delight (high degree of longing, pleasure and enjoyment) sitting at God’s feet He will shower us with His love. He will look for ways to lavishly bless us.
Child of God, you must come to fully grasp that God is love and He loves to please us. He wants us to know that the secret desires of our hearts are already gift wrapped and waiting for us. Each morning, I encourage you to get up and run to God in the early dawn with anticipation and excitement. Dad is waiting to spend time with you. His love for you is far greater than you can ever imagine. He so desperately wants to fulfill your desires, dreams, hopes and passions. When you delight in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart since He is the one who put them there!
Lord, thank you for the delight and wonder of your gifts every day. Thank you for the feelings of anticipation and excitement as I see you at work in my life. Renew me with a childlike faith to remember how much you love me and that you always want only the best for me. Through the blood of Jesus and in the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
