your law is within my heart. Psalm 40: 8 (NIV)
I delight to do thy will, O my God:
yea, Thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8 (KJV)
Here is yet another case where a change in a word between translations gives a verse a much different feel.
"Desire" vs "Delight"
Desire- : to long or hope for : exhibit or feel desire for
Delight-1: a high degree of gratification : extreme satisfaction
2: something that gives great pleasure
In my mind "desire" speaks to a longing for, but lacks an inherent sense of joy, jubilation, glee. But "delight" brings to mind smiles, warmth, and happiness.
If asked, "Do you desire to do God's will?", most Christians would respond in the affirmative. However, if a slight change were made to, "Do you delight to do God's will?", there might be some hesitancy in the responses.
We can desire to do God's will with a lack of delight or joy.
St. Francis sets a standard for us below when he writes, "People of ordinary goodness walk in God's way, but the devout run in it, and at length they almost fly therein!" (exclamation point mine)
While both desire and delight may result in the same product here on earth- tithes given, volunteer hours logged, prayers offered, the difference is the mind set and heart condition of the individual.
Run in God's way. Skip joyfully down His path. Fly in God's will!
Devotion is really neither more nor less than a general inclination and
readiness to do that which we know to be acceptable to God. It is that
"free spirit," of which David spoke when he said, "I will run the way
of Thy commandments, when Thou hast set my heart at liberty." People of
ordinary goodness walk in God's way, but the devout run in it, and at
length they almost fly therein. To be truly devout, we must not only do
God's will, but we must do it cheerfully.
St. Francis De Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Roman Catholic Saint
St. Francis De Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Roman Catholic Saint
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