“What do you want?” I remember asking that with an exasperated sigh when being pestered by a whining child. Children’s requests are almost universally self-focused and addressed to parents who have many responses from silence to angry no’s to soft headed indulgence of foolish whims. The child often makes extravagant promises in the hope of a positive parental response. Our human parenting is so tainted by sin that we have difficulty getting a good picture of the amazing perfection of our Heavenly Father’s parenting of us.

I know that my prayers need to fall in line with God’s will. But my limited knowledge of God’s over-arching plan for the world makes it impossible for me to be absolutely sure that every request I arrow toward heaven is perfectly aligned with what God wants. So the temptation is to shrug my shoulders and sigh, “what’s the use?” and just not pray at all.

But that won’t do. We are commanded to pray. Jesus taught us to pray and we are supposed to pray with belief that we are heard. OK. So what DO I pray for? Isn’t some of what I pray for like a foolish whim that my child asks? “Mommy, I want a palomino pony for my birthday.” Really! What child asks for a plate of broccoli and a stack of books to study as a birthday gift? Isn’t it the same in the Christian walk?

Enter this amazing word from the Psalms.

I have read this promise many times over the years and have made the assumption that surely God meant that if I was a really good girl and really doing lots of noble and good things that He would somehow be pleased enough to give me longings and desires that would please Him.

But this time, I decided to reexamine the passage. I went to my ESV Study Bible and read the notes.

“Some take “the desires” as referring to the feeling of desire, i.e. “God will shape your heart so that it desires the right things”, but the sense is rather, He will give you what your heart desires.” …as they delight themselves in the LORD, their hearts will desire the right things.”

Oh, no! That can’t be. That is TOO grand a promise. “What my heart desires?!” But there it is. Plain and simple. I am immediately reminded of the places in John’s Gospel that I have marked and read many times. Jesus Himself says six times in three chapters in John (14, 15, and 16) the exact same thing.

• “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do…” (14:13)
• “If you ask Me anything in my name, I will do it.” (14:14)
• “…ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (15:8)
• “…whatever you ask of the Father in My name He will give to you. (15:16)
• “If you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. (16:23)
• “As and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” (16:24)

These promises from Jesus’ lips must be read in context, but they have the same framework as the Psalmist lays out. The one who loves and obeys Jesus, the one who honors the Father has this amazing promise.

I am still pondering how big this promise is as I frame my prayers. I want help being organized today. I want the process of getting my book printed and published to go smoothly. I want to stay healthy so I can care for my family. I want to grow up spiritually. I want my family and friends to know and love Jesus, too. I want the world set right- the end of war and suffering. The list ranges from the mundane to the lofty, but all of it is part of what my heart desires. I am free to ask. I am assured He hears and will give what I request.

Jesus has commanded me to pray. He has promised to answer and so I get the privilege of entering into His wonderful plan for His world- by PRAYING.

Question: What are the desires of your heart? Have you taken them to Jesus?