Under The Fathers Wings
Our Conflicting Desires
We can all relate to desiring something,
because we were created with the capacity
to desire. Desire can be healthy or unhealthy,
Godly or ungodly, casual or intense. We can
desire something simple, like a hug from
a loved one , a special meal or develop a
burning passion for a cause that eventually
consumes us. This is were the conflict comes
in. The Bible tells us to develop a desire,
to hunger and thirst for the Lord. It is good
and holy to desire God, to long to know Him
personally, to come to love Him deeply. It is
also good and holy to desire our mates in
marriage, to provide for our families the
best we can, we should have the desire ,yes
even a hunger, to share Christ with others.
But if we don't, or can't control our desires
because of conflicting emotions.
If we don't or worst yet, won't tame our
Desires, they will run like a wild
animal. That makes us no better than an
animal, God help us. Let see what
the Bible has to say on how to direct our
desires down the path that honors God,
and ultimately bring honor to us.
1st Kings 3:5
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in
a dream, and God said, "What do you want?
ask, and I will give it to you!"
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when dreams come true, there is
life and joy.
God is the one who created the desires
within us as a means of expressing our-
selves. Desire is good and healthy if it
is directed toward the proper objects
of desire, right desires is that which is
good and honors God.
Psalm 73:25
Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire
you more than anything on earth.
Isaiah 26:8
Lord, we love to obey your law; our heart's
desire is to glorify your name.
Jeremiah 29:13
If you look to me in earnest, you will find
me when you seek me.
As we see in the above scriptures, it is ok
to want and desire something, but our
greatest desire should be seeking after God.
If God is the focus of our desire ,then we won't
have to worry, we know our desires are where
they should be, and hence no conflict.
Judges 14:3
His father and mother objected strenuously,
"isn't there one woman in our tribe or among
all the Israelites you could marry? Why must
you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?"
Selfish desires takes only ourselves into account.
We become so obsessed with what we want, that
we forget to ask , is this what God would want?
Philippians 4:8
And now, dear friends, let me say one
more thing as I close this letter. Fix your
thoughts on what is true and honorable
and right. Think about things that are
pure and lovely and admirable. Think
about things that are excellent and
worthy of praise.
When we desire things that God tells us is
sin, that is were our conflict come in, because
sin no matter how it is presented is wrong.
We have to make very sure that any desires
we have is good, and is consistent with God's
word, and not harmful to ourselves and others.
Deuteronomy 29:18
The Lord made this covenant with you
so that no man ,woman, family, or tribe
among you would turn away from the
Lord our God, to worship these Gods of
other nations, and so that no root among
you would bear bitter and poisonous fruit.
A question, that we have ask ourselves is how
does evil desires grow in our lives? Well the
Word of God tell us, that it starts with a
seed being planted, quietly, without fanfare
or a beat of a drum, even without evil
intent. We simply take a step away from
God. With the second and third steps it
brings the conflicts, and we move father
from God. Then the bitter, poisonous fruit
of desires of lust, begins to grow. We have
to be careful to guard our hearts and
our minds from allowing seeds of
evil to be planted in our hearts.
James 3:13
If you are wise and understand God's ways,
live a life of steady goodness so that only
good deeds will pour forth. And if you don't
brag about the good you do, then you will be
truly wise!
Matthew 6:13
And don't let us yield to temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.
2ndChronicles 34:33
So Josiah removed all detestable idols
from the entire land of Israel and
required everyone to worship the Lord
their God. And thoughout the rest of his
his lifetime, they did not turn away from
the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
Colossians 3:2
Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not
think only about things down here on
earth.
Proverbs 15:22
Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many counselors bring success.
I can remember when I was a little girl,
and I would get into trouble my grandma
would say to me "Idol hand is the devils
work shop" and have I ever found that to
be true, as I go through life. As we read
these scriptures God is telling us ,how to
resist doing that which is evil or just plain
wrong and how to avoid it. He tells us to
keep ourselves busy. If we are in doubt
about something we are to pray about
it and to ask God to take away the
source of temptation, to fill our minds
with the things of God ,and to find a
person who is willing to help us.
Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart with new
and right desires, and I will put a new
spirit in you. I will take out your stony
heart of sin and give you a new, obedient
heart.
If we really desire to follow God He tells
us here that He will put His Spirit in us,
this will enable us to desire the life we
were created to live. He is also able to
give us the capacity to help us direct
our desires. He will give us the capacity
to hunger and thirst after Him,
He can help us control our appetites.
God offers us a fresh start.
But, we always have to rely on His strength
to develop healthy desires and more to
the point we have to follow though on
them . This is where choice comes in.
Deuteronomy 5: 21
Do not covet your neighbor's wife.
Do not covet your neighbor's house
or land , male or female servant,
ox or donkey, or anything else your
neighbor owns.
We can see here, that we are in big trouble.
when we begin to notice that our neighbor,
or even friends have more than us, or
have better thing than us it lights a
fire in us. This fire left uncontrolled
blazes into godless passion, lust, and
covetousness, and we ask questions like,
why can't I have a nice home, a handsome
and talented husband or a beautiful wife
and mother? Why can't I have a big bank
account? The problem with asking ourselves
these kinds of questions is,
we risk stirring up the fire of
conflicting desires and wanting
to take things from our friends and
neighbors.
Song Of Songs 7.10
I am my lover's, the one he desires.
God has built a fire our hearts for sexually
desire for a man for a woman, and a woman
for a man only. It is a natural, God given
gift, but outside of God's plan of marriage,
it causes all kinds of hurts and bitterness
to ourselves and others. we may be saying
to our selves at this moment, but times have
changed, your right but the human race
has not changed and mote to the point
God has not changed, nor has His Word,
it tells us, He is the same yesterday, today
and forever. So you see it doesn't matter
if times have changed, peoples desires
haven't because they were God given to
be used to seek God and His plan for
our lives.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word,
that you didn't leave us to wonder alone
with out direction, on how to channel our
desires. Help us to desire to be pleasing to
you oh, Lord. Renew a right Spirit within
us, give us a heart that is in tuned to you
Lord. Help us to desire only that, that will
Be honorable. Let every thing we do bring
glory to your name Lord. I ask this in
the precious name of Jesus.
Amen & Amen
