Transformed Desire
River,
The word “desire” often has a negative connotation to it, especially when referencing the world we live in. We are surrounded by people – sometimes ourselves – chasing after their own desires and aspirations and impulses that it can be difficult to discern the ‘right’ desire. Every heart is driven by desire. Our desires form our decisions, the thoughts we think, the places we go, the people we speak with, what we do on the weekends, etc. The world has infected our minds and used every avenue possible to feed our desires. But the more we acquire, achieve, and accumulate, the less fulfilled we seem to become. The issue: our desires are based only on what we can imagine. There is only so much I can dream of, so much I can strive for, and I cannot fulfill all my needs – my earthly desire eventually reveals its limitations.
God does not condemn desire itself. After all, He gave us desire and passion. God invites us to utilize this powerful feeling to draw closer to Him and grow in knowledge of what and who He is. Jesus said, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” When we shift our desire to be about God, our intimacy with Him deepens, and our hearts begin to reflect His ways more and more.
God transformed my desire. I was a lost, searching-for-something, self-pleasing, broken man. My desire was “me, me, me.” But God revealed His love for me, and He showed me how to live out my passions in ways that honor and glorify Him. He opened the eyes of my heart to see that there is so much more inside of me that He will use for His glory. My worship became about more than what I can get from God—in worship my desire was to know Him first. I had a hunger and a thirst, and God fulfilled His promise.
Psalm 27:4 says: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.”
This week, I am praying for a renewed desire to seek the Kingdom of God. Let it fill our hearts and minds and be louder than the voice of distraction we encounter. Holy Spirit, let our desires be transformed.
-Nate
Set List:
- Fall Afresh – Jeremy Riddle Fall Afresh (Live at Vineyard Anaheim) – Jeremy Riddle
- Center – Abbie Gamboa Center (Live) - Bethel Music, Abbie Gamboa
- After Your Heart – Hannah McClure After Your Heart (Live) - Paul & Hannah McClure, @Bethel Music , feat. @Tiffany Hudson
- I Speak Jesus – Josh Baldwin I Speak Jesus - Josh Baldwin