Desires can lead us in many directions, but not all are beneficial. The Bible teaches us to discern between godly desires and those that lead us astray. What guidance does Scripture give about managing our desires in a way that honors God? Let’s see how the Bible addresses this topic.
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What Does The Bible Say About desires
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This verse reminds us that when our priorities align with God’s will, He grants us the desires that are in line with His plan for our lives. Delighting in the Lord means finding joy, satisfaction, and contentment in Him alone. When we seek Him first, our desires are transformed and become aligned with His purpose for us.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Jesus encourages us to prioritize God and His kingdom above all else. When we seek a relationship with Him and strive to live in obedience to His commands, He promises to provide for our needs. Our desires may change and align with His will, and He will ensure that we lack nothing essential for our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
This verse reminds us to place our trust in God rather than relying on our own understanding and desires. When we surrender our will to His, acknowledging His guidance in all areas of our lives, He will direct our steps and lead us along the paths that are best for us.
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James highlights the importance of examining our motivations behind our desires. If our desires are driven solely by selfish passions, seeking to satisfy our own desires without considering God’s will or the well-being of others, we may not receive what we ask for. God desires that our desires be aligned with His purposes and for the benefit of His kingdom.
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Jesus teaches that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who desire to live in alignment with God’s will and values, will be filled and satisfied. When we prioritize righteousness and seek to live in obedience to God, He promises to fulfill our deepest longings and satisfy our spiritual hunger.
Psalm 34:9
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
When we truly experience and encounter the goodness of God, we come to realize that He is the ultimate source of fulfillment. Taking refuge in Him and seeking His presence leads to a blessed life. As we align our desires with His, He reveals Himself in ways that bring true joy and contentment.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
When we surrender our desires and plans to the Lord, committing them to His guidance and control, He will establish and bring them to fruition according to His perfect timing and purposes. Trusting in His providence and seeking His will gives us confidence that He will bring about what is best for us.
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
God is at work within us, shaping our desires and empowering us to fulfill His purposes. As we surrender to Him, He transforms our hearts and aligns our will with His, enabling us to pursue and accomplish what brings Him delight and serves His kingdom.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This verse reminds us to resist the influence of the world and its desires that may lead us astray from God’s will. Instead, we are called to allow our minds to be renewed by the truths of God’s Word, which enables us to discern His will and pursue what is good, acceptable, and perfect in His sight.
Psalm 145:19
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
God promises to fulfill the desires of those who fear and respect Him. As we honor and seek to please God, He hears our prayers, comes to our aid, and grants us what is aligned with His will. Trusting in His faithfulness and goodness, we can have confidence that He will provide for our needs and answer our heartfelt desires.
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Contentment lies in recognizing that our ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment come from a relationship with God, rather than from possessions or worldly desires. When we trust in His constant presence and provision, we can be content with what we have, knowing that He will never abandon or forsake us.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
This verse serves as a warning against the dangers of being consumed by the desire for wealth or material possessions. When we allow the pursuit of money to take priority over our relationship with God, it can lead to spiritual devastation and hardship. It is important to keep our desires in check and ensure they align with God’s priorities.
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
When we surrender our desires and plans to God, entrusting them to His care and guidance, He promises to act on our behalf. The key is to release our desires to Him, submitting to His timing and wisdom. As we trust Him, He orchestrates circumstances and intervenes in ways that align with His perfect plan for our lives.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
This verse encourages us to fix our thoughts and desires on heavenly things rather than being consumed by temporal desires and pursuits of this world. When we prioritize spiritual matters and seek to align our desires with God’s eternal kingdom, we find true fulfillment and purpose.
Psalm 20:4
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
This verse expresses a prayer for God’s blessings to align with the desires of one’s heart and to bring fulfillment to their plans. It is a reminder of God’s goodness and His ability to grant our heartfelt desires and bring about the fulfillment of our purpose in Him.
1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
When we seek God’s will and align our desires with His, we can have confidence that He hears our prayers and grants the requests that are in line with His purpose. This verse reminds us to approach God with faith, trusting that He will answer our prayers according to what is best for us.
Psalm 145:16
You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
God is the source of satisfaction and the provider for every living creature. He knows our desires and has the ability to fulfill them. This verse reminds us of God’s generosity and his commitment to meeting our needs and desires when we trust in Him.
Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
This verse emphasizes the priority of seeking and desiring intimacy with God above all else. When we devote our hearts to Him, seeking His presence and dwelling in His house, we experience His beauty and learn from His wisdom. This desire for communion with God surpasses all other earthly desires and brings true fulfillment.
Psalm 105:19
until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.
This verse speaks to the testing of our desires as we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Sometimes God allows circumstances and delays for our desires to be tested, refining our faith and dependence on Him. It is during these times that we learn to trust in His timing and faithfulness, and our desires are strengthened and purified.
Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Walking by the Spirit involves aligning our desires with God’s will rather than indulging in fleshly desires that lead to sin. When we live in submission to the Holy Spirit, seeking His guidance and following His prompting, our desires are transformed and we are empowered to resist the temptations of the flesh.
Psalm 81:10
I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
In this verse, God reminds His people of His faithfulness and ability to fulfill their desires. He encourages them to trust in His provision, opening their hearts and mouths wide in anticipation of His blessings. When we open ourselves to God’s generosity, He meets our desires and abundantly provides for our needs.
Matthew 22:37-38
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Jesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God wholeheartedly with every aspect of our being. When our primary desire is to love and honor God, all other desires align with His will. Loving God above all else enables us to pursue our desires in a way that brings glory to Him.
Psalm 119:36
Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain!
The psalmist prays for God to direct his heart towards valuing God’s Word and testimonies above personal gain. It is a prayer for a desire that aligns with God’s truth and purposes. When we ask God to shape our desires in accordance with His Word, we seek to prioritize His kingdom and renounce selfish ambitions.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.
This verse reminds us of God’s limitless power and ability to exceed our desires and expectations. When we surrender our desires to Him, allowing Him to work in and through us, He can bring about outcomes that surpass our wildest dreams. Trusting in His provision and unlimited resources, we can have faith that He will accomplish great things in and through us.
Psalm 145:16
You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
God is the source of satisfaction and the provider for every living creature. He knows our desires and has the ability to fulfill them. This verse reminds us of God’s generosity and His commitment to meeting our needs and desires when we trust in Him.