Heart’s Desire

 February 22, 2024

”May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; 

May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 

May He send you help from the sanctuary, 

And strengthen you out of Zion; 

May He remember all your offerings, 

And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 

May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, 

And fulfill all your purpose.“

Psalm 20:1-4 

This psalm is a wonderful prayer for protection and help in time of trouble, but there is a detail often overlooked in the midst of it. We love to quote the fourth verse—“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose,” but it’s easy to take it out of context. What if my heart’s desire is for revenge, or lust, or extravagant accumulation of wealth? What if my purpose is nefarious? Will God grant those kinds of desires?

That fourth verse is dependent upon the third verse—“May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.” We don’t offer burnt sacrifices any more. Jesus’ death on the cross was full payment for our sins, but what the third verse tells us is that the one who first prayed this prayer was careful to obey the will of God as revealed in the Levitical law. He acknowledged his sins, and sought forgiveness and cleansing, all of which means his heart’s desire and his life’s purpose was to be in fellowship with God. 

The only way we can expect God will grant our heart’s desire is if that desire is to do the will of God. If my purpose is to honor God, I can pray this prayer confidently, knowing that my purpose aligns with his.