The Desires of the Heart

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” - Psalm 37:4 NIV
Lord, we long for so many things.  Many things are our daily bread — those things we need to live in this world.  Along with true needs there are hosts of longings that we host within our hearts.  In the latter use of the verb “host” it relates to providing accommodations or place of lodging for.  In the former, the noun “hosts” can refer to spiritual presences as in the “heavenly host” and the term used to describe a person or entity that plans and organizes events and invites others to come and join.

Father, You bring into question if we have provided a place of lodging in our hearts for unsanctified longings — seemingly innocuous guests who have taken up residence within us that invite other unholy hungers and cravings to join with it.  One craving begets another, and before we know it we are buried in the refuse of unrestrained longings that exchange wisdom and common sense for a fleeting satisfaction followed by lingering regret.  Father, they are just another manifestation of idolatry (Col 3:5).  These secret, illicit love affairs of the heart that steal from the fulfillment and intimacy You desire to fulfill in us Yourself.

What we focus on and give our attention to will later be what we long for.  Father, reveal to us which worthless things have been averting our attention away from Your love (Jonah 2:8).  Show the hidden houseguests of longings living in the recesses, under staircases and dark corners of our spiritual house.  Come in with the light of Your Spirit and expose every ungodly thing.  Then, by the power of Your Spirit, the Word of God and the authority given to us by Your Son, walk with us to evict every single one.  (1 Peter 2:1). Lord, we want no part of addiction, hoarding, perversion, warped thinking or immorality.  We renounce every abusive relationship with the torment of unhealthy longing and every unholy alliance.  Before these things are even revealed, we repent.  Forgive our infidelity of heart that flirts with the masked offerings of darkness that plot to lure us away from You.  Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matt 6:13).


We fix our eyes upon You.  We ask that we would find delight in Your presence.  Give us a desire for You and then fulfill that longing with more of You.  Open our eyes to see things rightly, evict longings of darkness that prevent us from walking in the fullness of Your power and authority.  Release us, again, from the talons of the enemy to instead take hold of the greatest treasure — knowing You intimately in spirit and in truth.  In Jesus Name ❤️

Dear friend, is your heart drawn toward things that are not healthy for you or even unhealthy attachment to good things?  We mistakenly believe they will bring the satisfaction we desire.  Why not ask the Father to reveal what is hurting you and by His Spirit remove it?  Seek to find His lasting satisfaction and joy instead of settling for lingering regret. 💡

If you have been encouraged or challenged, please repost and further His kingdom!

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