If someone was to ask you what is the desire of your heart, how would you answer? Would it be for money or material possessions or would it be for something more meaningful?
Maybe you are in dire need of money to buy food or provide a roof over your head etc., so money at that time would not be a meaningless request. God knows our needs before we ask but we need to ask. Maybe you have dreams of a ministry or a career that benefits many people. Possibly your desire is to have those around you come to know the Lord, or possibly it’s that your prodigals will come back to Jesus? Very often our desires walk hand in hand with our concerns. It could be very helpful to take the time to write a list of your own life desires.
There are many different things that could be the desire of our heart, but pretty often there’s one thing, one prayer, that always seems to take center stage in our lives: “Lord just get me through this!” Don’t we all have trials, test, medical things, first few weeks on a new job, illness, financial woes, death of someone close to us etc.? Therefore, in deep need and deep distress my most pressing desire is to pray: “Lord just get me through this situation!” I often also quote Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
When things are closing in on us, it’s hard to think about our dreams and other desires, we just want to survive what’s going on. Right? So, I want to share with you this very spiritual and powerful way to pray for your needs and desires.
Try praying scripture. I know I may have written that before but it’s worth repeating. Something I like to do when praying scripture is to change the you and we in a scripture to I, me, and my, then pray that scripture. It makes it personal and when we can make it personal, it changes the ownership. It is now the prayer from your heart, not just the written word. It changes something inside of you as well.
Standing on the promises of scripture gives us a solid foundation to pray from. In Isaiah 55:11 we find that God’s word is productive, See below. In the KJV version it also says: It shall not return void. In Luke 1:37 it will never fail. This little piece of news gives us great hope that our desires and concerns are heard.
55:11 NLT It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Luke 1:37 NIV No word from God will ever fail.
So here is a wonderful Psalm to pray for the desires and concerns of your heart. I will type it as it is written, then I will type it how I would pray these scriptures. May you find great peace in this method as you connect with the one that holds the whole world in His hands but still cares about the smallest sparrow.
Psalm 20:1,2,4,5,6 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
Prayer
Lord in Isaiah 55:11 it states that your word will not return void but it will prosper and in Luke 1:37 it will never fail. So today Lord, I pray your word for the prayer request I will lift up to you. May the Lord answer me when I am in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect me. May he send me help from the sanctuary and grant me support from Zion. May he give me the desire of my heart and make all my plans succeed. May I shout for joy over my victory and lift up my banner in the name of my God. May the Lord grant all my requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers me from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. So Lord, hear my praises of thanksgiving and then the requests I now lift up to you: (__) Thank you Lord, I stand on your word and your promises. You are a good Father and my refuge and fortress (psalm 91). I release my concerns and desires to you, and continue on in my day knowing you are working on my behalf. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Psalm 149:4 NIV For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Next week, Desire of Your Heart Part 2
God Bless
Sally
