“​​Yes, in the way of Your judgments,

​​O LORD, we have waited for You;

​​The desire of our soul is for Your name

​​And for the remembrance of You.”

The desire of the righteous is for the fame, honor, and glory of Jesus Christ. We believe that He’s worthy as our great Redeemer. We’ve seen Him as God. We know His goodness by experience, and He melts us with His love. Our highest desire is to worship Him, and we want His name praised in our life and character. We want others to know Christ.

This gift of God is a rare jewel. Even as believers, we may start off carnal, but He purges us and weans us. Paul says, “And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ [1 Cor 3:1].” God, however, gives us instruction and teaches us in the way [Ps 25:8-9]. He humbles our pride, shows us mercy, and we arise to praise the King. Self is abased by trials, failures, and the agony of disappointments, until we learn the sweetness of praise by experience. The sincere heart delights to honor Christ and no longer wars, counting Him worthy by the assistance of the Spirit. Now, we live uprightly [Isa 26:7]. We don’t seek human approval, because He approves of us within with peace that surpasses understanding [vs3]. Now, we are privileged to know God’s fear, so we wrestle with sin believingly and adamantly, because it must be rooted out. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live [Rom 8:13].”

Praise God for this grace that keeps us humble and guides our heart to glorify Christ; it is not merely words but it’s intents and motives that He seeks [1 Thess 2:4]. He puts in us honesty before the throne, confidence in Christ, and He makes us ask what pleases Him! We are most blessed to be in relationship with God. These people who offer sincere praise are the only ones who worship Him, who have the privilege to walk with God closely.