A Day-by-day devotional

January 9, 2023

The Desires of Your Heart

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Job 23-28

Scripture of the Day: Matthew 6:25-27

I was talking to my 13-year-old nephew and he said that if they would have more money, they would be able to buy everything. Then he stopped, pondered, and told his mom, “But even if we can buy everything, we shouldn’t buy all things!” Then I went on explaining to him the difference between needs and wants.

Whenever our heart is clouded by desires, we tend to shut our reasoning and put our wants in the category of our needs. Then, when we ask God to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19), and He does supply all our needs, we “accuse” Him of not keeping His promise. That’s because we have extended the definition of our needs into our wants. We need food, clothing and shelter. Those are the basic needs of man and they should suffice for man to live. If you have all three and aren’t in lack, know that your needs are well-supplied. All the rest are extras that we receive in the abundance of blessings that the Lord provides for us. Nonetheless, if you do have a lack in any of those three, do not lose hope, for you have been told not worry about what you will eat or drink, or about what you will wear (Matthew 6:25). The Lord is Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14). He provides!

Does that mean that we cannot ask the Lord for provision of our wants? Our wants are the result of the desires of our hearts. Oftentimes, these desires are the personal wishes that we have for our selves. They are those that we think and long for ourselves to be in possession of. However, if our hearts find peace, satisfaction and fulfillment in God, He will give us the longings of our hearts, because those longings stem out of the desires that He Himself thought of and planned for us (Psalm 37:4). His desires become our desires. How then can He not provide them to us if He was the one who has put them in our hearts in the first place?

When we rejoice in the things of God, i.e. the eternal things unperceived by the physical senses, our desires will parallel His and will thus never go unfulfilled. The key to this, however, is “to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things necessary will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Reflection: Have you ever had a long-time request from God for provision but it feels as though He has not been answering? You have to examine your prayer – have you been asking for something according to His plans or yours? If you will align your desires with God’s, your heart’s desires will be delivered unto you.

Prayer: Father, align my desires to the plans, purpose and will that you have for me. Dissolve all my personal plans and create within me the desire to desire what you desire. Thank you for always providing for me. Amen.