Since the beginning of time harnessing desire has been a challenge. Eve saw the fruit and had the desire to eat, and eating isn’t a bad desire. After all fruit is healthy, but not that fruit, not the fruit God had forbidden them to eat. Desire is part of God’s design. The challenge is to desire things in the right order, in the right way, in a God-honoring way. We need to say “no” to any desire that could interfere with following Jesus. When you worship, sing, study, and pray, you draw closer to God, you have a desire for what God wants. But here’s the problem, you probably want a lot of other things as well. Is it ok to desire other things besides God? Of course it is! God loves it when you find joy in the things he’s created. Throughout the New Testament we learn that God’s goal is not the elimination of our desires, nor the gratification of all of our desires. His goal is the transformation of our desires by allowing him to meet our desires. Material possessions, the desire to achieve, relational desires, physical desires, and recreational desires are all God-given. It’s when your desires draw you away from God and His plan for your life that they are a problem. When you pursue desires in a God-honoring way you start becoming the person God created you to be.

Scriptures: The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. (John 10:10 GNT)

“Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.” (John 7:38 CEV)

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:6 NIV)

Remember your Creator while you are young, before the bad times come—before the years come when you say, “I have wasted my life.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 ERV)

…You will drag yourself along like a grasshopper when you walk. You will lose your desire, and then you will go to your eternal home…. (Ecclesiastes 12:5 ERV)

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15-16 ESV)

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 NLT)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 NRSVUE)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. (Colossians 3:23 GNT)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV)

And you may spend the money on whatever your heart desires: on oxen, sheep, wine, other strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. (Deuteronomy 14:26 NASB)

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. (Proverbs 11:22 NIV)

The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. (1 Corinthians 7:3 NLT)

So if you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to honor God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLV)

Questions: Are you honoring God in the pursuit of your desires? Do your choices bring you closer to God? Do they replenish your soul, breathe life and joy? Do you need to sacrifice some desire for a greater God-given desire? Is God prompting you to deal with a desire that is taking you away from Him?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, search my heart and reveal any desire that is displeasing to you and anything that is hindering my relationship with you. My greatest desire is to serve and please you. Help me to grow closer to you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.