Godly Desires

Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you shall have them. (Mark 11:24)

Although there are many words translated in both Testaments as desire, the most common word in the original languages means to set one's passion upon something, to crave someone or something ardently. The word is translated variously as desire, lust, concupiscence, covetousness, or envy. The total man is involved with desiring. The heart, the condition of the heart, gives direction in this matter for good or for evil. The mind and the thoughts are activated, so that a person imagines something to be worthwhile and desirable, and plans begin to develop that will help secure the object of desire. The will is employed, so that thoughts about something are translated into actions that will obtain the object of desire for oneself. Perhaps it can be said that desire is the activity of the entire inner life of a man, the life of the soul, as it craves to possess that which it does not have. This is all summarized powerfully, in the negative sense, by James: "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye envy, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:1-3).

The child of God desires that his (and God's) enemies be brought down and consumed, for the words of their lips, for their pride, for cursing and lying (Ps. 59:10 ff.). His heart's desire and prayer to God is that Israel might be saved (Rom. 12:1). Rather than desire prominence in the church, the believer is to covet earnestly the best gifts (I Cor. 12:31), which are faith, hope, and especially charity. He is to have, with Paul, a desire to depart the earth and be with Christ, leaving the time for departure in the Lord's hands (Phil. 1:23). Brothers in the church are to know that desire for the office of elder is a godly desire, understanding that this is not a desire for vain glory but a desire to work (I Tim. 3:1). Pastors and all believers desire that every believer show diligence in labors of love, labors of ministering to the saints (Heb. 6:10, 11). As we live as pilgrims and strangers in the earth, we show that we desire a better country, that is, an heavenly (Heb. 11:16). As newborn babes we are to desire the pure milk of the Word, in order to grow in spiritual life (I Pet. 2:2). We desire many things of God, we petition Him for them, and we have confidence that as we pray according to His will, our desires are given us (I John 5:14, 15).

All these godly desires are really summed up in Psalm 27, the fourth verse, "One thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple." One thing is the worthy object of our desire. One thing will we seek after. One thing forms the center and focus of our sanctified desire. That is God, as He is revealed in all His beauty, grace, and desirableness in His house. Nothing in all the earth do we desire beside Him. Not when we know Him, and have His law engraved upon our hearts!

In Luke 19:3-4; The story was told on Zacchaeus’ burning desire to see Jesus made him climb up the tree. He was not bothered of making a spectacle of himself. His desire to see Jesus made a way for Saviour himself to come to his house. What a reward!! A good desire in life is always rewarded.

 Do you have any desires that God would like to fill? Often times we hear the saying, “God knows what I need and He will give me whatever is best.” Yet, in truth, the Bible makes it clear that it is important for His children to have godly desires…to ask Him, and then to watch as the God of the universe comes to hear, and grant their desires.
Why does God desire to grant our desires? It is definite proof that God sees our lives and loves us individually. While we know there is a God, God loves to come to each of us individually and reveal to us an intimate and personal love, and one way in which He does that is granting and fulfilling our heart’s desires.

 When we go to Him with genuine desires from a clean heart, desires that are from a heart that desires to honor God, then begin to watch the God of heaven move, work and reveal the wonderful truth that He will, fulfill the desires of that person that walks with Him.
With godly desires coupled with faith from a believing heart, the scripture says that ye will receive them.
Prayer is the voice of faith (Horne)