Desire

I really enjoy and am often very convicted by this Gospel Coalition blog. Today's post about desire was extremely convicting. Paul Tripp wrote about desires and how much they shape us. Here are some excerpts that were especially convicting and I hope you go and read the entire article.


You and I are creatures of desire. Everything you ever choose, do, or say is the product of desire. 

Desire will cause you to submit to the King or set yourself up as king. Desire can cause you to fight for freedom or can be the very thing that causes you to be addicted. Desire can give you power or rob you of the power that could be yours. 

Desire is your biggest problem and one of God's sweetest graces. There is one thing for sure: your life and your ministry is always shaped by desire.


Remember this biblical principle: whatever rules your heart will control your words and behavior. 


If you fight the battle of behavior alone, the battle will not be won. You must be willing to fight the spiritual fight at the place where your behavior is formed: in the desires of the heart.


You must humbly realize that every day, in all the situations and relationships of your life, this war rages.


Could you say with the psalmist, "There is nothing on earth I desire besides you"? In fact, he is expressing in a phrase exactly where God wants each of us to be. We were designed to live with his glory as the single motivator of all that we do. Desire for him was intended to shape all the other desires.


So we all need to cry out for help once more, we all need to seek God's rescue and his power. We must all humbly admit there is evidence in our daily lives and ministries that the war of desire still rages in our hearts. This means that we cannot quit seeking his help until the day when we can say with complete singleness of heart, "There is nothing on earth I desire besides you."