Origin and Targets of Desire

I’ve been pondering this question lately, “where does desire come from?”

Obviously, the word ‘desire’ has both negative and positive connotations and my focus is on that which more noble in nature.

Why don’t we have the initiative or desire to do particular things?  These can be even seemingly good things like sending someone a letter letting them know how proud you are of them.

I wonder if it’s a combination of the overall health of our hearts (e.g. hope deferred versus a desire fulfilled), along with that which is initiated by our creative God.

Romans 11:36

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

I’ve been in a rather low place this week.  Yet God knows how to delight my heart and bring me encouragement in a way that’s personal and unique to me.  I believe that God sent a pair of robins, who have been sitting in a tree outside my office, literally looking right at me, and singing right to me for the past four days or so.  What are they singing?  I don’t know, but I do know they are a personal encouragement from God for my heart.

There are many words in Hebrew, which have been translated as ‘desire’.  The Hebrew word ‘chaphets’ (H2654) is a good example.  This word means to ‘delight in’, ‘have pleasure in’, ‘be mindful of’, ‘be attentive to’, ‘to keep’, ‘to protect, and ‘to bend down.’

Isaiah 55:11 is a good example of this Hebrew word which brings life:

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Where does desire come from?  I believe that which is for God comes from God.  That God is the source of those desires.

Did you know the word ‘Eden’ (H5731) means pleasure?  It’s a stretch for many to understand that we were created for and in a place of pleasure.  Between a sacred and holy covenant between a man and wife, new life is birthed through pleasure.  I believe somehow, that same picture applies to our personal relationship with God.

Isaiah 51:3

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Psalm 37:4 is often used to describe paradigms of desire, and yet the Hebrew root is not ‘chapats’, but rather ‘shaal’, meaning an inquiry or a petition. 

 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires [petitions] of your heart.

Yet, the word for ‘delight’ is interesting.  It is represented by the Hebrew word ‘anag’ (H6026), meaning ‘to be soft’, and ‘to be delicate’.

So how do we ‘delight’ ourselves in the Lord?  When searching for an answer, I felt prompted to look at Psalm 107.  Psalm 107 has a theme regarding giving thanks to God and recognizing his goodness.  It takes a soft and delicate heart to recognize the goodness of God and be thankful when going through difficult times.

Psalm 107:1-2:

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary.

In the season I’ve been in, I’ve encountered more and more teaching focusing on the grace given through Yeshua and His righteousness (not mine), being careful not to mix-in law that can not produce life.

1 John 4 teaches that we love because He first loved us.  I am unable to love God, or love others on my own merit (law).  Perhaps when our focus is redirected to His love, the desires of our heart are satisfied (grace).

Yeshua heard the words from heaven that he was a beloved son, in whom God was well pleased.  God loves us with the same love.

John 17:23

I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Song of Solomon 7:10

I am my beloved’s; And his desire is toward me.

You are the beloved, and God’s desire is towards you.  He wants to bring encouragement to your heart in a way, which is personal to you.

While we wait for desires to be fulfilled, I believe our assignment is to be the beloved.  Be loved.