What do you really, really want?

What do you really, really want?

That may sound like a strange question leading up to Thanksgiving in a few days.

It sounds more like we may be getting our Christmas lists together.

And, of course, retailers who want to sell us things are not focusing on kindling a spirit of gratitude within us. (Which is ok, by the way. That’s how they make their living and we don’t need to begrudge them that).

We also don’t need to turn the whole concept of “desires” or “wants” into something that is inherently negative or self-serving.

There is a tendency on the part of some to make a big deal of the distinction between “wants” and “needs.” (That was a key component in a recent local school bond election in my hometown).

Certainly, there is a difference and when we don’t recognize it we may spend our resources unwisely.

But “wants” are not inherently dangerous, sinful, or selfish.

I can’t tell you how many times someone has indicated to me their fear that if they really wanted something, it must not be God’s will for them—for no other reason than they wanted it!

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Now, that doesn’t mean that God is a vendor of goodies if we will just demonstrate enough delight.

What it means is that when we find our ultimate delight in our relationship with Him, He will graciously place within us desires for those things that are consistent with His character and His purpose for us.

Oswald Chambers said it this way: “The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is—has God changed the things that really matter to you?“ 

New life in Christ means new desires.

When someone indicates to me their fear of doing something because they want to, I ask them to evaluate their relationship with Jesus.

Has Jesus made you new?

Is the Holy Spirit living in you?

Did God make you purposefully?

Does God love you and want what is best for you?

Do you love God and want to please Him in all you do?

Is this something you would have wanted before you knew Jesus personally?

Does this violate anything God has revealed in His word?

Have you prayed about it and asked God to show you if you are missing something?

Can you approach this with a spirit of gratitude and maintain a spirit of gratitude if your prayers are answered differently than the outcome you envision?

Could it be possible that you want this precisely because God placed this desire in your heart?

I’ll repeat my earlier question: What do you really, really want?

Be amazing today, my friend.