In Psalm 37, we are told not to worry about what evil people are doing and to not envy the success of the wicked because they will wither like a flower. Our calling in this life is to “Trust in the Lord and do good. That calling will help us live safely in the land and prosper” (Psalm 37:3). There is a way to live and pray that will prepare us to live a spiritually prosperous life. That way is defined in the next verse, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4).
We need to understand the meaning of two words in that verse. “Delight” means to “be pliable.” “Desires” refer to making “a request”. As we become more pliable in God’s hands, He will change the kind of requests we make to Him. Both words work in concert with each other.
This is not always a joyful and cheery journey. It can lead us to the discovery of things we once believed that were in conflict with God. Yielding to this process and becoming pliable in God’s hands will reform old content and create a new ways of thinking regarding what we ask of God. Our requests in prayers will begin to change when we discover the intent of God’s heart. This is like what happened in Jeremiah 18 when the Lord had to recast a pot spinning on the potter’s wheel. He did the reforming to more clearly reflect His desires.
Some of our ways of thinking and how we perceive God’s Kingdom must change or we will not be able to navigate what is coming and begin to live a prosperous spiritual life. This is a challenging choice to make, but in the end, it will be worth it when begin to see this life through the lens of God’s Spirit.
God can’t mold DRY clay. New wine is poured into new wine skins. Change is necessary for maturity.