God’s Desires Within

God’s Desires Within

It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13, ESV

LORD, I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO ANSWER THIS PRAYER. But not my will, Lord; your will be done. Though I do hope your will is the same as mine. It’s a running conversation in our minds whenever we strongly desire something but also want God’s will to be done. Many of us think of our will and God’s as two different things that occasionally overlap. And some of us assume that if we want something, it almost certainly can’t be God’s will and should therefore be denied. In any case, we search for God’s will as if it’s somewhere out there waiting to be discovered. Sometimes we have to be told to look within.

We are reminded of this in Scripture. The Holy Spirit is in those who believe, flowing out like rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). Jesus was so confident in the Spirit at work in the disciples’ hearts and their union with him that he told them to ask “whatever” and “anything” (John 14:13; 15:7). And Paul told the Philippians that God was at work in them “to will.” Their search-and-discover mission for God’s mysteries was not only to be focused on the pages of his revealed Word but sought in the hearts and minds that had joined with him in spiritual union. As we believe and mature in that relationship, one of the ways we know God’s will is by noticing the desires and ideas he has placed within us. If he is at work in us to will and to work for his good pleasure, then that’s where we need to look for his will and pleasure: in us.

That doesn’t mean everything you want is necessarily God’s will. We have lots of desires that don’t come from him. But his desires are to be found in us somewhere, and we can discern them through prayer, confirmations, and recognition of their nature and persistence within us. If you’ve ever wondered what to pray for, that’s a great place to look for guidance. When he wants us to do something, he usually lays it on our hearts in the form of a strong desire or, at times, a conviction that stretches our desires in new ways. His voice is often clothed in our longings.

If ever desiring, then ever praying.