Have you seen the social media meme “treat yourself”? It challenges us to indulge. Treat yourself through chasing comfort. Always put yourself first. This world tells us to choose self-gratification and personal advancement. If it feels good, it must be good.
But Scripture offers a radically different invitation.
Instead of treating yourself, the Word says,
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 ESV
That difference may seem subtle at first, but it reveals two entirely different kingdoms at work.
Two Competing Desires
When Jesus teaches us to pray, He doesn’t begin with our needs, our wants, or even our struggles. He begins with alignment:
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 ESV
This prayer calls our hearts away from self-centered living toward a God-centered lifestyle. It serves as a reminder that prayer is not about convincing God to bless our plans, but about surrendering ourselves to His.
The world’s version of prayer often sounds like this:
“God, help me get what I want.”
“God, please make my life easier.”
“God, bless what I’ve already decided.”
But Jesus is teaching us to pray for something deeper:
“God, establish Your reign in me.”
“God, shape my desires.”
“God, let heaven invade my heart, my choices, my priorities.”
If aligning with His will is our purpose, then our prayers must be shaped by surrender rather than self-indulgence. To delight in the Lord is to discover Him as the true source of joy. God’s will is restorative. It is believing that what He desires for us is far better than what we demand for ourselves.
When we pray “Your will be done,” we are saying:
- Teach me to want what You want for me.
- Break my attachment to anything outside of Your will.
- Let my life reflect Yours, not culture.
So Then How Should We Pray?
With humility and open hands. Not by asking God to serve our kingdom, but by offering ourselves to serve in His.
This doesn’t mean we never bring our needs to God; it means we bring them to Him through trust and surrender. We trust that delighting in Him will reshape our desires, refine our prayers, and realign our hearts.
In a world shouting “treat yourself,” may our prayers whisper, and may our lives declare,
“Lord, teach me to delight in You.”
Because when His kingdom comes, and His will is done, even here on earth, we will find that nothing satisfies more deeply than Him.
*For those of you who prayer walk, take time to ponder and pray ‘Lord, teach me to delight in You’. For your copy of this week’s screensaver click here. And to access all of my YouVersion Bible App devotional plans click here.