Your heart's desire.

Psalm 20:4
He will give you your heart’s desire and carry out all your plans.

Frankly, I’m tired of the “we’re not worthy” attitude that so many Christians cling to and so many preachers extol from the pulpit. Yes, it’s true that given our sinful nature we’re not worthy of God or His Glory, but the truth of the matter is we’re made new according Christ’s sacrifice at the cross. What Jesus did for us on Calvary covered any and all transgressions that we have committed, are committing, or will commit. Christ’s overpayment for our sin debt, His physical and spiritual reversal of the curse, has opened up the windows of heaven to us according to His riches in His glory (Philippians 4:19, Ephesians 3:16).

While it’s true that we need to seek and work within God’s will for our lives, the truth still remains that He wants to give us what we desire; He wants to make our plans succeed. What does this mean to our Christian way of life? Simply put, it means that as long as what we are doing isn’t sinful by nature (plotting a murder and raping people are good examples of sinful activities), God wants to help us do it.

Do you want to be a cross country runner? Well, God wants to give you your heart’s desire and help you carry out your plans. Sure, you’ll have to put the time and effort into a training routine, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The asthma you believe is holding you back has already been defeated by Christ on the cross. Believe that you have received healing already (Mark 11:24) and talk to God about your desires. Allow His power, which has defeated what you believe is holding you back, to make you who you want to be.

This isn’t just about your gym routine, though; it’s about your everyday life. God wants to see you satisfied, completed, and happy; He loves you. That is why He gave us Christ. It wasn’t so we could trudge through life with our heads down singing “praises to the King” while believing that we’re not even worthy to sing the very praises we just sang. That’s a crazy mindset! No, through the cross of Christ and His finished work we have the right, the justification, and the privilege to boldly come before God and ask Him to help us succeed, to give us what we desire.

Honestly, isn’t that what grace is about: the getting of something completely without deserving it? If God so loved the world that He was willing to die for our salvation (John 3:16), if He came to give us life abundantly (John 10:10), then why aren’t we receiving it? Because we’re still believing that we’re not worthy of it.

There has to be a change in our believing before there will be a change in our receiving. If we continue to believe that we’re not worthy of the blessings that Christ has bestowed upon us through the cross, then we will continue on not receiving those blessings. But, when we realize that we are worthy of those blessings, not through our works or deeds, but through the once and for all atoning and justifying sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we will receive them in abundance.

Grace isn’t just a pretty name for a girl. It isn’t just what gets us to heaven. It is what sustains us through life; it brings us health, wealth, friendships, prosperity, happiness, joy, love, and peace. It is the full unbridled love of God made manifest for all mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is what gives us the confidence to say, “He will give me my heart’s desire and carry out all my plans.”