”May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
Psalm 20:4New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 20:4 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
May God do it for you
Psalm 20:4, which I have themed “May God do it for you“, is part of a prayer made for the king of Israel. In this prayer, the Psalmist asked God to grant the king the desires of his heart and to make all of his plans succeed.
The Psalmist, therefore, assumed that what the king wanted would have been consistent with God’s will. But what if the king’s desires weren’t what they ought to be? What if his plans reflected his own goals rather than God’s purposes?
May God give you the desire of your heart
This means that the Psalmist anticipated what is found in Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” At that moment, King David’s desire was to defend the people (kingdom) of God.
Therefore, when you seek God as a priority and take pleasure in Him and his kingdom, then your desires will be transformed. More and more, you will yearn for the things of God. Your plans will be a reflection of His plans.
The heart
When the bible talks about the heart, it is referring to the core of who a person is. A person’s deepest desires and motivations, the thoughts that drive a person, and the things which occupy our minds.
Remember, Jeremiah 17:9 states that the heart is deceitful and “desperately wicked”. That’s why when Jesus is the desires of your heart, it will be reflected in how you live (Matthew 12:34, and 6:21).
May God make all your plans succeed
Proverbs 16:9 tells us that a man plans his course but God establishes his steps. That is, you’re not truly in control of the steps in your life. And that’s why you would be wise to assess your plans or purpose to consider how they align with God’s Word (will).
Remember, God, tells us, “For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). He also tells us that there is a time and season for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord Jesus, I want you to grant my heart’s desires and make my plans succeed. But I am well aware that my desires and plans might very well not be the according to Your will.
I, therefore, ask You to give me the desires of your heart. May my passions align with your passions, and my goals with your goals.
Help me to want what you want for me, my family, my work, and my relationships. And then, gracious Lord, grant my heart’s desires and make all my plans succeed.
I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 3-5 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
