Desires of the Heart

From birth we desire. As a newborn we desire to be fed. As a child we desire entertainment. As a teen we often desire what others have. And as adults we continue to desire to be fed, entertained, and to have what others have. We each have individual desires that are ever changing as our lives unfold. We often desire to be loved, to be happy, to attain success, to travel, to be recognized, or to make more money. Some desires stay with us while others fade away. Sometimes our desires are fulfilled and bring an abundance of joy. Other times our desires are fulfilled and yet are not as satisfying as we imagined. While still yet some fulfilled desires bring unexpected sadness and pain. So why do we desire? Are there things we should desire? 

Psalms 42:1 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God”. 

Desire translated means of the father. We were made for our desires to be of the father. In other words we were made to desire Him. God seeks to fill our hearts with: an abundance of love and joy. While we seek things of this world, hoping these things will fulfill our desires, we miss being filled with God Himself, who is love and joy. 

John 15:9-11 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” 

The love of God can not be compared to the love of this world. Think about the ways we use the word love.  “I love tacos.”  “I love a clean house.”  “ I love my children.”  “I love my dog.” “I love that dress.”  “I love the beach.”  “I love my job.”  “I love my husband.”  The love we desire is not the same love we see demonstrated by God. It is not even the same love children or a spouse can give us. The love our hearts long for can only be found in God our Father. 

We often measure our joy by the tangible blessings in our lives instead of focusing on God the source of true joy. We try to attain joy through our families, our careers, our income, our vacations, or our accomplishments. These things can bring temporal happiness but never true joy. Happiness is a fleeting external emotion that is centered on self fulfillment. Our happiness can be attained within this world and can negatively affect others. At times our happiness comes at the cost of others happiness. Joy however, is a stable state of being not attained, but gifted from God. It is internal, good, selfless, and naturally flows into the lives of others.  Our joy never comes with a negative cost, but can only bring forth more joy.

So if we were made to desire Father God, how do we cultivate this desire in our hearts? Reread the message that the beloved disciple John relays to us.

John 15:9-11 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” 

If we abide in His love we will keep His commands because we will be lead by the Spirit. This submission to the Spirit will bring an abundance of joy. Abiding in Him brings true love and joy. How do I abide in Him? Seek Him every day with all your heart and He will be found.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find, when you search for Me with all your heart. 

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Without Him we will never be satisfied. We will never find love. We will never be joy filled. You can be a believer and miss out on the love and joy of the Father if you do not abide in Him. The love and joy is always available but we must reach out and take it. We must daily desire Him above all things. Decide today to abide in Him and allow Him to fulfill the desires of your heart.

Take a moment to pray: Father God, thank you for your promise to fill me with love and joy. I long to be filled with the goodness only you can provide. I seek you today knowing that you will be found. Help me to abide in you each and every day so that I might bear the good fruit of love and joy. Let the Spirit guide me to follow your commands and grow my desire for you.