Understanding your desires (1)

Your capacity to desire certain things is a gift from God; it’s a powerful motivator. Picture two kids taking swimming lessons. One does it because he watched the Olympic games and wants to win a gold medal when he grows up. The other takes lessons because his dad said he had to. Which kid do you think is likely to make it to the Olympics? In Genesis we read, “Jacob served seven [more] years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20 NIV). What kind of person would see seven years’ hard work as a mere few days? Someone working toward his or her dream! Jesus told the story of a man with a “got-to-have-it” desire. When he discovered treasure buried in a field, he “went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44 NIV). Similarly, the people who listened to Jesus were so drawn to His peace, courage, and wisdom that they thought, “I must have what He has.” Do our desires sometimes lead us astray? For sure! In order to be able to trust them, you must do two things: (1) Desire a relationship with God above all else. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (2) Make sure your desires are in harmony with His will. “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8 NKJV). When you centre your life around God and His Word, you can trust “the desires of your heart.” And God will give them to you!