What is your heart’s greatest desire?

This is a treacherous question for a Christian. We know how we should answer, perhaps something like “to live in God’s presence and worship him forever.”  But, if we’re honest, we know our hearts are fickle, and often our lives reflect different priorities.

When we stew in the world’s culture, we can take on its flavours. All too often the world’s values start to overtake kingdom values. We can become increasingly attracted to what is on offer around us. Anxiety about what we lack, discontent with what we have, and envy for another person’s lot can flare up and fuel all sorts of misdirected desire.

Psalm 37 addresses issues like this.  It begins, “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” The worship of the world belongs to those who defy the creator of the world and who will, therefore, go the way of the world. Their loves and motivations ought not become ours.

We have a richer hope and a better future because of God’s unfading commitment to us. Therefore our right response is to trust him and walk in his ways. For as long as we dwell in his pasture, we will be amply supplied with all we need for life. Believe. Behave. Belong. Be blessed. Remembering God’s faithfulness to us will help us live lives that are unaffected by the worldly chaos we soak in. His steadfast love will help us to be set apart, holy.

In this world, people don’t always get what they desire.  In this world, what people desire is often skewed and detrimental.  But if we desire God—if we fix our eyes on him and tune all our desire towards his majesty and glory—then he will give us what we want. He will give us himself, together with all the blessings that come with that. And in Jesus, that gift is ours in abundance.