When Delight Becomes Desire

This has become one of my favorite scriptures because I've learned something profound: God puts desires and visions in our hearts not separate from Himself, but through His very nature. This is how He gets His plans and purposes into the earth—through the dreams He plants in us.

But here's the pattern I had to learn the hard way: you can't just grab a dream and run with it in your own strength. Everything starts with delighting yourself in the Lord. As you spend time in His presence, not only do your desires change, but your perspective shifts. The ears and eyes of your heart get tuned to His frequency.

I remember when God first gave me the vision for mentoring artists globally. It seemed impossible. But as I continued to delight in Him—not in the vision, but in Him—He began to show me step by step how it would unfold. The desire grew stronger because it was rooted in relationship, not ambition.

When you delight in the Lord first, He doesn't give you "just barely what you need to get by." No! He gives you the desires of your heart—desires that align with His purposes, desires that will fulfill you deeply because they flow from His heart to yours.

Creative Prayer Exercise: Today, practice "delighting" before "desiring." Spend your first creative moments simply enjoying God's presence. Put on worship music, read a Psalm, or simply sit in grateful silence. Only after you've genuinely delighted in Him should you begin to create. Notice how this shift affects both your process and your desires.

Prayer: Father, I choose to delight in You today—not in success, not in my dreams, but in You. As I find my joy in Your presence, align my desires with Yours. Show me the dreams You're planting in my heart. Help me to hold them loosely, always prioritizing relationship with You over the pursuit of vision. May my art flow from delight, not striving. In Jesus' name, Amen.