Desires of the Heart

Colleen Howard
22 hours ago
3 min read

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. — 1 John 2:17 NLT

The Fleeting Joy of a Long-Awaited Gift

When our son was a little boy, he was bored every day. As his mother, I found it exhausting! One year, as Christmas approached, he asked for a specific toy, accompanied by an enticing proclamation — “If I get this, I’ll never be bored again!”

Did he receive that toy on Christmas morning? You bet he did! He played with it incessantly, and about ten days later, I heard the familiar battle cry, “Mom! I’m b-o-r-e-d!” Well, bless his little heart. Playing with the toy nonstop reduced his interest level until he was no longer enchanted.

Haven’t we all succumbed to this lie at one time or another? Here’s a phrase that should put you on high alert: “If only.” It sounds something like this: “If only I had a new car, if only I could get the promotion, if only I had the latest cell phone, or if only I got a popular toy... then life would be perfect.”

Seeking True Fulfillment Through a Deep Connection with God

But God wants something more for us––a deep connection with Him. He’s the only one who can satisfy our souls and fill our hearts. Longing for material things is overrated. The enemy often uses these distractions, or “lies,” to shift our focus away from Jesus.

Life pitches a variety of lies to us, and we tend to catch and keep quite a few along our journey. Believing that the lies will quench our desire for a better life is like piling one lie on top of another. After a while, our stack of lies is too heavy to handle, and like our son, we’ll soon get bored and look for the next thing to satisfy us.

Aligning Our Hearts with God's Will: Prioritizing Prayer and Generosity

It’s not that God doesn’t want us to have “things”; it’s just that He doesn’t want the “things” having us. When this happens, our focus shifts to the stuff and people to make us happy. Yet our heavenly Father wants so much more for us. So, He asks us to spend more time in prayer and to have a generous spirit toward those in our circle. When we engage with others, show compassion, and serve a heaping portion of grace, God is pleased. This will align our hearts with His.

Just like our son, who was certain he could be satisfied if only he had the toy he longed for, we too usually find that material satisfaction is short-lived.

Embracing Divine Love: Prioritizing Spiritual Fulfillment Over Material Pursuits

Let’s return to matters of the heart. Instead of solely pursuing material things, let’s focus on doing what pleases God and mimic His display of love to us. His pursuit of us is relentless; His love is unconditional; and His mercies are new every morning. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to align my heart with yours. Guard my mind from the lies of the enemy who wants to kill and destroy me. Show me how to focus on what pleases You, as You pursue me with Your never-ending love. Praise be to God! Amen.