The Word
“O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.” ~Psalms 38:9
The Thought
I’m doing something new this New Year. I love the beauty of a fresh start. Whether it’s the beginning of a new year or the inauguration of school in the fall, I find myself giddy with anticipation. I love to write out my goals— the promise of a fresh slate. There is so much excitement in the anticipation of what might be.
This new year is no different. I’m writing out my goals, looking back at the things I learned last year, praying to be the best version of myself, my true self. The person God created me to be.
But there’s something new I’m adding to this. Something I didn’t necessarily do in previous year. I’m telling God what I want. What the deepest desires and longings of my heart are. He already knows. I’m just pouring them back to Him upon the pages of my journal and the words of my mouth. The top of one of my journal entries literally says, “What I Desire.”
Have you ever done this? Told God exactly what you want for this coming year. What your deepest desires are: how you hope to change, what you hope to become, what you are becoming.
I love this passage in Psalms because it reminds me that all my longings are before Him. He knows what I want. He hears the sighs of my heart.
Do you have longings that ache to be fulfilled? Dreams that you fear may never come to pass? Take heart, wild one. This Psalm assures that all our longings are laid bare before God. Another way the verse is translated is “Lord, all my desire is before Thee.”
All of your desires are before God. It is in His hands to fulfill them and make them come to pass. You don’t have to strive to make them come true. Steward them, acknowledge them, bring them before the One Who knows you better than anyone else.
The Lord knows the longings of your heart better than anyone else. He hemmed you in behind and before when you were still in your mother’s womb, and He continues to do so as you carry out your days here on this earth.
This Psalm also shows that your sighing is not hidden from God. He hears every cry you utter, every moan you take. What you cannot express in words, He understands. He stoops down to be near you, dear heart, and takes into account all of your desires and your sighs.
He is near. Rest assured that every desire, every sigh you take God spies them out. Your longings are ever before Him.
So why not write them out and tell Him them this new year?
The Mending
Spend some time with a pen and paper writing out some of the desires you have. Confess to the Lord that they are His to fulfill and you stand willingly as His servant to steward these longings.
Along with your desires, write out your sighs. Ask the Lord to bend His ear to hear what you may not even have the words to say.
Cheering you on in this new year, dear friend. Excited for all that 2024 has in store. Let’s lay our longings before Him together.
Cheers,
~Chris
Wonderful! I wrote a song some years ago called "Heart's Desire" with just this theme. Perhaps it is time to dig it out!