"Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD." Psalm 4:5 (NLT)

I have a confession to make. After many years of walking with Jesus and seeking Him to fill me, I still struggle with unmet longings.

Maybe you can relate. Have you ever wanted something so badly your heart ached with each thought of it? It seems like life would be so much better if you had that one thing.

There would be more happiness.

More contentment.

More fulfillment.

More satisfaction.

More peace.

You can envision yourself with this thing, this person, this opportunity. And all things are better. So, why doesn't God give you this longing of your heart? This longing of my heart?

Could it be because He wants us to willingly let it go?

Ouch.

That's not the answer I want. Why would God let the aching desire linger and not make things happen? He could. He's certainly able. But when He doesn't, it seems unfair. Not good. Confusing.

It's easy to get down when we're constantly let down. We hope this thing will happen ... we'll meet this right person ... we'll get this job ... we'll finally be healed ... we'll get that chance ... we'll see that family member turn his or her life around. Time and again it doesn't happen. That's when it's easy to slip.

That's where trust steps in and reminds us we can't ever learn how to live real faith if we never need real faith.

As an offering of trust, we must give up that which could so easily bring us down.

Not give up as in discouraged surrender. But give up as in placing this desire in the hand of God and saying, "Either way, I will see Your answer as the good answer and walk in trust."

I like to call these types of releases in my life sacrifices of praise, like Psalm 4:5 tells us to do: "Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD."

Lord, I sacrifice chasing this so I might more fully and with more focus chase You. I release this grip of desire. I praise You for who You are, what only You can bring, and how You will fill whatever gap this release might leave.

Yes, I still struggle with unmet desires.

But not as much today as I did yesterday.

And that is good. Not easy. But good.

Dear Lord, I want to offer You sacrifices of praise with a willing heart. Cultivate in me an attitude of obedience as I choose to trust Your plans above my desires. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

Read more about growing your relationship with the Lord and walking in complete obedience in Lysa TerKeurst's book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God. Click here to purchase your copy.

Lysa and the Proverbs 31 team are launching an exciting new monthly membership training program called COMPEL: Words that Move People. If you're a writer, speaker, or leader, and desire more confidence and competence in your writing, click here to learn more.

Reflect and Respond:

What can you offer up as a sacrifice of praise to the Lord?

Take small steps each day as you walk in obedience and give that thing up to God.

Power Verses:

Psalm 62:8, "Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (NIV)

Isaiah 26:4, "Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." (NIV)

© 2013 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.