Delighting in God and Receiving the Desires of Our Hearts
Does it seem like a pipe dream that God would give us the desires of our hearts, just for delighting in Him?
Join me this week as Maureen Miller and I discuss what Psalm 37:4 really means and how it changed Maureen’s life.
This week I welcome writer, chaplain, and new novelist Maureen Miller to discuss Psalm 37:4. Maureen unpacks how this beloved verse is not a promise of “gimme, gimme prayers,” but an invitation to intimate relationship with God, allowing Him to shape our desires and bring deeper fulfillment than we could ever imagine. From her story of infertility to the simple joys found on her farm with grandchildren, Maureen testifies that God’s best often looks different—but always better—than what we picture for ourselves.
Episode Highlights
- Psalm 37’s context: an instructional psalm written as an acrostic, contrasting the fleeting success of evildoers with the enduring inheritance and joy of the righteous.
- Verses 1-3: “Fret not” over the prosperity of the wicked; trust, do good, dwell with faithfulness—this context shapes how we read verse 4.
- “Delight yourself in the Lord”: means pursuing deep relationship and intimacy with God, allowing Him to reshape our dreams and desires.
- Maureen’s story: how God transformed a heart’s cry for children from clenched-fist prayers to open-handed surrender, leading to joyful motherhood through His timing and means.
- Practical encouragement: When God’s answer seems “no” or “not yet,” keep pressing into Him, surround yourself with community, safeguard what you read/listen to, and anchor yourself in gratitude and worship.
Great Quotes
- “Delight means more than thinking, ‘God is awesome.’ It’s knowing Him so intimately that His desires become ours.”
- “I used to clench my dream for children tightly in my fists, but God taught me to open my hands—as I delighted in Him, He changed me.”
- “God will plant desires in us that are more beautiful than anything we could dream for ourselves.”
- “Praise is the ladder out of despair. What we listen to and focus on can lift us or keep us stuck.”
- “God’s best always fits us perfectly—even when it looks different than we hoped, when we delight in Him, He gives us Himself, and that’s enough.”
Resources Mentioned
- Scripture: Psalm 37:4
- Maureen’s Website: maureenmillerauthor.com
- Email: maureen.miller913@gmail.com
- Blog: Windows and Wallflowers
- Novel: Gideon’s Book (Maureen Miller, 2024) (affiliate link)
- Reference: Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 12, Psalm 139
Related Episodes
- Ep. 26: Shelter Under the Lord’s Wings (Meg Wilson)
- Ep. 22: God’s Gift of All We Need (Susie Crosby)
- Ep. 4: Anticipating God’s Goodness on Earth (Sara Cormany)
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