Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
It sounds like your heavenly Father is signing a blank check made out to you, and the very extravagance of the promise scares many people away: "Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). Make a choice to believe, and you're in for an exciting life. Fill in the blank for any amount you "desire"--if it's nothing, that's what you'll get. If it's something big, that's what He promises you.
The first step is to realize that "desires" must be translated into the real meaning of the Hebrew word (mishalah): it means "petitions" or prayers. The Lord is not dealing with timid wishes that never become articulated in actual prayer.
To "delight yourself also in the Lord" of course means that--not in Wall Street, or Macys.
Next, be aware that if you choose to believe Him, you thereby catapult yourself into the middle of the "great controversy between Christ and Satan." That weeds out many who don't want to be "involved." So, "let the dead bury the dead." Don't quarrel in the judgment day; if you have asked for nothingness you'll get it.
Abraham (as a teen probably) had the "desire" to be somebody great and important in the plan of God for the world. Result: the Enemy of Christ became his enemy too, and did everything possible to frustrate his faith right up to his 99th year. He couldn't know how to laugh until he was 100. Then he named Sarah's son "laughter" (Isaac).
Joseph as a boy dreamed "desires" of saving his world and his family, and at 17 prayed his "desires" into dedication. Ponder his involvement in "the great controversy."
When David was a mere boy, Samuel encouraged him to "desire" to be somebody important in Israel. Dreams suddenly became deeds when he killed Goliath.
From the age of 12 Jesus dreamed of becoming "the Lamb of God," the Savior of the world. Everybody else's battle of faith culminates in His. He dreams with you.
Don't be content to dream your dreams vainly, and let them wilt and die on the vine. Make them into prayers. Then take your place in the controversy. Fight your own battle of faith.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 1, 2003.
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