How to pray for the desires of your heart
Have you ever prayed and asked God to give us the desires of our heart?
It’s a Scriptural. David prayed these words. But let’s look at the whole prayer for some context.
How should you pray for the desires of your heart?
We find this important phrase in Psalm 20. David outlines his troubles to God, and he speaks truth over his fears. Three times, David gives a humble and worshipful response to God’s character of goodness. This prayer is anything but a laundry list for desires, but it is an outpouring of desire for God and from God.
Here’s how it goes:
Dear Lord, you answer me when I’m in distress.
You protect me.
You send help from your sanctuary
and give me support from Zion (that’s angel protection and help!).
You remember my worship
and my gift offerings.
You give me the desires of my heart.
You make all my plans succeed.
I shout for joy
and lift up the banner displaying God’s goodness.
You grant my requests.
You save me because I am yours,
and you answer me from heaven.
Some people trust their own strength and power,
but I trust in you.
You bring my enemies down,
but you lift me up.
I will stand firm in your love.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A couple observations:
1. David didn’t pray for the desires of his heart. He thanked God for giving them to him. (That’s gratefulness, not greed.)
2. The “desires of my heart” section happens in the prayer AFTER he has called for help, and God has answered from heaven.
3. The relationship between David and God is relational, dependent, and worshipful. God doesn’t owe David anything–God protects and answers because he loves David. And David is confident and content in what God gives.
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