Desire

Desire! Sounds like the title of a steamy romance novel, or the name of it’s sultry heroine, doesn’t it? The entertainment industry has done a pretty good job of attaching a lustful connotation to the word, but “desire” is neither good nor bad; it simply represents a very powerful human force. In fact, Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” That’s how powerful a desire is. It’s the motivation behind our desires that either makes them admirable or that which can actually be what the verse calls, “an abomination”.

Here’s something else we need to know about our desires: God wants to fulfill them. That’s right! Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Now is David’s psalm a blanket guarantee that God will give you everything you want? Not at all. It’s a great promise, and God wants to fulfill it for you, but there is a caveat:

God fulfills the desires of those who make His kingdom their highest concern.

What does that mean? Simply that you must adjust your agenda to God’s agenda; that every day, in every way, God’s will and purpose have to come before yours! That means you must learn to say as Jesus said “Not my will but your will be done!” That means you must care about what God cares about. And Jesus said if you will care for God’s concerns, God will make sure your concerns are cared for:

“Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

What did Jesus mean by “all these things”? All the things that you desire: Health, security, relationships, finances, clothing, food, significance and success. Jesus says, “The Father will give those to you, and then some, if you give him first place in your life. Take care of His kingdom above all else and he will meet your every need and fulfill your every desire!”

Now with those conditions met, that’s an amazing blanket promise of blessing to those who say, “God, you’re first!”

Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:

Can you truly say, “God, yours is the kingdom” in your finances, interests, relationships, schedule, and even your trouble? If you can, then he will make sure all these things—and then some—will be added to you as well.

Where do you want God to satisfy your desires? Your marriage? Family? Career. Finances? Health? Are you putting him first there? Wherever you want him to bless, there you must give him first place!