GET WHAT YOU WANT

FEBRUARY 20

Psalm 37

Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The Rolling Stones had it mostly right when they sang, “You can’t always get what you want.” However, there is one way in which you truly can get exactly what you need.

This psalm draws a sharp contrast between the lives of the righteous and the wicked. The psalmist highlights that while the righteous are sustained and blessed by the Lord, the wicked face futility in their lives and will ultimately face judgment.

In this context, verse 4 offers both a better path and a beautiful promise. To “delight” in something means to take joy and satisfaction in it, much like indulging in an ice cream sundae. However, in the grander sense of life, to delight in something is to actively pursue it as the object of your affection. The wicked delight in sin—there’s temporary pleasure to be found in accumulating possessions, indulging in lustful desires, and seeking power (Hebrews 11:25; 1 John 2:15-17).

On the other hand, to delight in the Lord is to find one’s deepest joy and satisfaction in Him. It is to seek after God as the goal in life (Philippians 3:10). This door is wide open to us, thanks to the saving work of His Son. There is no one to prevent us from walking through it—except for ourselves. When we set our hearts on pursuing God, we will find Him ready and willing to meet us there. As James 4:8 promises, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

When our hearts are aligned with God’s will, He is pleased to fulfill our desires. Imagine, for instance, that we would never hand over our credit card to a drunken sailor, knowing it would be wasted on foolishness. But if we entrusted it to a faithful friend who would spend it according to our instructions, it would be a completely different matter. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, “Men who delight in God desire or ask for nothing but what will please God.” In seeking after God, we not only fulfill His will, but experience in Him that what is truly “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“The desires of God, and the desires of the righteous, agree in one; they are of one mind in their desires.”—John Bunyon

Application Questions: What do you delight in?  What does it mean to delight oneself in the Lord?  To what extent are your desires aligned with God’s?

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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