Proverbs 4: 23

Johnny Douglas

"Are you thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm DYING of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I-could I-would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to-do anything to me, if I come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. "Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"O dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion."
from THE SILVER CHAIR, Narnia tales - CS LEWIS
God doesn't want you & I dabbling in other streams but Him! He longs for our desires & our want to be fed by Him alone.

It's not like we can have too much or something!! Our problem is that our desires for God are not too strong but too weak!

My take is this:-
· YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS ENTIRELY AFFECTED BY YOUR WANT FOR GOD!!
Deep within, each of us have desires. Some of them are good while others are quite sinful - clearly needing censoring!! My premise is this:-
Your desires can determine your direction if God is your delight.

Foundationally - time spent with God shapes your character. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do. Proverbs 4: 23
This is a negative command that has a positive implication.

Beware of what you let inside because whatever goes in influences what comes out. Junk in, junk out ... / viruses in - the computer dead!
On the flip side, if you fill yourself with the things of God, godly things will come out of your life. Your heart is moulded to reflect that of God. The word of God dwelling richly in us produces beautiful consequences,.

Godly character can rely on desire to determine God's will.

You don't have to sit around waiting for a sign to do good to other people. There's no need for a dream or vision. You don't even have to have a scripture that speaks to it. Feel free anytime you want to love your neighbour as yourself to go out and do it.

· APPROPRIATELY ALIGNED DESIRES :-
totally lean on the truths of the Bible.
If your desire tells you to violate any of God's clear commands in the Bible you can be sure that it's not God's will for you to act on it. The only way to nail this one down is by spending daily time prayerfully searching the scriptures for yourself. You will never know God's will nor live it out if consistent time in the Bible isn't a lifetime habit.

Appropriately aligned desire is selfless rather than selfish. You become a giver rather than a taker.

Require faith
Are you hungry for growing your muscle in God?

Consistently raise the level of commitment to Christ

Always push you to prayer
It would be insane and dangerous to act on all desires without seeking God.

If you're not seriously seeking the Lord, don't follow your desires. They'll lead you astray and bring ruin to your life. But on the other hand, if you want God more than your next breath, take stock of the passion you have within and go for it.
Your desires can determine your direction if God is your delight.

How much do you want Him? - Desire Him ?
Are you, am I , consistently developing a heart for God.?
Nothing less than God can fill our soul. Its capacity is designed for God alone. If we try to fill it with earthly things, we will never be satisfied. Lovers of God will be at peace when they are filled with God through desire. We take ourselves too seriously AND we don't take God seriously enough!
Come on!! Drink afresh & desire the life of God from the river for yourself!!