ALIGN YOUR DESIRE WITH GOD’S DESIRE
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“He will fulfill the desire of those who
fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.”—Proverbs 145:19
Everyone has
desires. Throughout the world people
want something. From birth, we begin to
have desires. Desire is the most basic
longing or drive in the human nature.
When babies are hungry, thirsty, tired, or experience discomfort they
cry. Through crying they are able to
express their desires or need to be satisfied.
Desire means to have a craving for, a longing, yearning, to want, to covet
something with intense longing. The
following scriptures give some insight into desire. “Whatsoever things
you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have
them” (Mark 11:24). “The desire of the righteousness shall be
granted” (Proverbs 10:24). “The desire
of the slothful kills him…” (Proverbs 21:25).
Having desires is good. Goals drive us and set the direction for our life. But we want our objectives to match the ones God has for us. Longings contrary to His purposes have the power to corrupt the body, mind, or spirit. They can also cause some believers to fall into temptation.
How can we be sure our desires are right? A godly ambition is usually specific and fixed. It will stand up to evaluation through prayer and Bible study. In contrast, a wrong desire fails to meet these criteria. For instance, some people may have only a vague sense of what they want from life. Or their yearning changes easily as circumstances shift or time passes. Most dangerous is that goal which is pursued despite its incompatibility with a righteous lifestyle. In such cases, the believer has neglected to consider two vital questions:
1. Does God want this for me?
2. Can I follow Christ and this objective at the same time?
Miriam Hellman writes in her book, The Art of Receiving
Understanding the Wish to be Satisfied, that “When the [human] ego is
involved, our desires are filled solely with self-interest, … whereas the
desire of the heart that is centered in God for our source will fulfill all
true and proper goals.”
Many of the things we desire aren’t specifically addressed in Scripture as “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not.” That is why the Lord gives us access to the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and discernment. We must prayerfully evaluate our longings. This will ensure we are within God’s will and pursuing His purpose for our life.
If your desire and
God’s desire align, your desire is then pure, focused, and in your best
interest. Remember, God cannot fulfill
your desires until you release them to Him, and that they are added to us from
the kingdom of God.
Prayer—Father I repent of any ungodly desires, and I ask You to help me
align my desires with Your desires, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
