PSALM 20:4: “May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.” CSB

OBSERVATION: What is my purpose in life? What is my heart’s desire? As I look over my life I see that the answer to these questions have changed quite dramatically. One of the benefits of getting older is the extended view you have from the rear view mirror. It is in this view that you gain some perspective and understanding.

I love the promises of God’s Word. Yet, I am careful not to hang my hat on one isolated verse of Scripture. This is one of those promise verses that can give us great hope, and also get us into trouble if we are not careful. The part that can get us into trouble is our heart.

The heart is a fickle thing. It is probably the most unreliable factor in determining God’s will and direction in our life. Why is that? It is because we have difficulty discerning between the thoughts and the intents of the heart. An old saying goes, “The heart knows what the heart wants.” This may be true, but why does the heart want what it wants? How many times have I gone done the wrong path because I was listening to what my heart wanted.

So, if the heart is so unreliable in determining the direction of our life, why would the Lord proclaim this promise in Psalm 20:4? What is the context of – “May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.”? The context is found in the preceding verses.

• “May the Lord answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah”. Psalms 20:1-3 CSB

The context of this promise for the heart is threefold. It is surrender, worship, and offering.

• “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble…”

When we come to the Lord in times of trouble we come in a position of weakness and surrender. It is usually when we have exhausted all of our efforts and finally realize that He is our only source of help and supply. This surrender is humility in action. We come to Him empty, needing to be filled. We come to Him broken, needing to be healed. We come to Him with a heart that is seeking His will.

• “May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion…”

David recognized that all of his help came from the Lord. However, his writings were very specific. David cried, “May He send you help from the sanctuary, and sustain you from Zion.” This was the place of God’s presence. This was the center of worship. This was holy ground. The very ground where God met with man. It is when we come to Him in humility, and position ourselves before Him in worship, that we are prepared to hear His voice.

• “May he remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering.”

Worship was not complete without sacrifice. In the Old Testament this was an animal sacrifice, or the sacrifice of some form of burnt offering. The humble and worshipful heart was called to express itself in an act of obedience through sacrifice. In the New Testament our sacrifice is much different. We are the sacrifice.

• “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 CSB

And within the act of sacrifice we find the key to the promise in Psalm 20:4. Our humility brings us to God. Our worship positions our hearts before God. But, our sacrifice surrenders our will and our actions to God. When we present our entire lives as living sacrifices, we do so to yield our lives to His will and purposes. Our worship is not complete without this sacrifice. And it is in this sacrifice that we discover His heart, and in discovering His heart, we discover ours.

It is the renewed heart and mind that receives the promise of Psalms 20:4.

• “May he give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.”

The question is no longer – “What does my heart want?” The question is now, “What does His heart want?” His desires become my desires. His will becomes my will. His purpose becomes my purpose. And a wonderful thing happens when this exchange takes place. I finally discover my true destiny and enter into the fullness of joy for my life.

This morning Lord I come to You in full surrender. I humble my heart before You, and prostrate myself in worship. I bring my entire life to You as a living sacrifice. Please accept my heart. Pour out Your desires and make them mine. Help me to fulfill Your entire purpose for my life.

In Jesus Name!