“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23 (NIV)
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it is that you truly desire? Not just what you want in the moment, but what your heart longs for deep within – when the noise fades and the distractions quiet down. The truth is – the desires of our hearts reveal much about who or what sits on the throne of our lives.
As believers, our greatest pursuit should be to align our desires with God’s desires. Yet, we live in a world that constantly pulls our eyes toward things that glitter but don’t satisfy – success, approval, wealth, comfort, and control. If I can go a little more in depth with that thought – Success, when aligned with God’s guidance, is amazing; Approval, who are we really trying to gain approval from? When focused on the approval of God, utilizing His word, we’re good, when focused on the approval of the world, we will constantly burn up our energy in vain because approval of the world is in complete contradiction of the spirit; Wealth, never bad when utilized to do good and follow the principles of Jesus Christ and His requests of us to take care of each other, not just focus on what “we” can gain in “keeping up with the Jones’”. It really matters, friends, where our true desires lie within. Our Heavenly Father ALWAYS desires for us to be at peace in a world full of chaos, and to be “happy”, but happy in a way that is not worldly. Let’s delve in a little more below.
The question we must ask is: Are my desires in line with my Father’s will?
A Heart That Longs for Righteousness
King David – a man after God’s own heart – prayed earnestly for God to search and know his heart. David understood that even when his intentions seemed pure, his human nature could easily be swayed by pride, fear, or temptation. His prayer in Psalm 139:23–24 wasn’t casual; it was a cry for purification and alignment:
“See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:24)
David’s desire wasn’t for riches, power, or fame – it was for righteousness. He longed to walk in intimacy with the Lord. That’s the kind of heart God delights in – one that says, “Lord, take my desires and make them Yours.” What you will find, precious friend, is that when you pray this prayer, “Father, align my desires with your will for me,” you will have the blessing of seeing things so very clear, not through your human eyes, but your spiritual eyes.
When the World Competes for Our Hearts
The enemy knows how easily our hearts can be distracted. He whispers, “You deserve this… You need more… You’ll be happy when…” – and before we know it, our hearts begin chasing what the world values rather than what God desires.
Satan’s strategy is simple: to keep you striving for things that will never satisfy. The more time we spend focused on what we don’t have, the less content we become in the blessings we do have.
But friend, you and I were never meant to find fulfillment in what fades. God’s Word reminds us in 1 John 2:17:
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
The world tells us to follow our hearts. God tells us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23).
In that, let me hopefully allow you to understand why the world says, “follow your heart,” and God says, “guard your heart”. Our Father knows how satan works, better than anyone! Our hearts can be easily deceived, loved one. The Bible says, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Jeremiah was speaking to the people of Judah, knowing where their “hearts” were leading them… to idolatry and self-trust, instead of trusting in God the Father. Therefore, God says, “guard your heart” – as it is a vulnerable piece of us the enemy can and will use if we are not aware of his tactics. The latter part of Proverbs 4:23, tells us that “everything we do flows from “it”, from the heart. We must be vigilant in speaking to the Holy Spirit, and through it, inviting the Lord to search our hearts.
Inviting God to Search Our Hearts
It takes courage to pray, “Lord, search me.” Because when we invite Him to do so, He will gently reveal the things that have taken root where only He should dwell.
Maybe for you, that’s the desire for recognition, comfort, or control. Maybe it’s resentment or fear that’s clouding your trust in Him. Whatever it is, God doesn’t expose our hearts to condemn us – He does it to heal us and ultimately to save us.
When we surrender our desires to Him, He replaces them with something far greater – His peace, His purpose, and His perspective. Oh, that’s great news, friend, the BEST news!
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
This verse isn’t about getting what we want – it’s about God transforming what we want to align with His will.
Living from a Surrendered Heart
A heart surrendered to God finds joy not in self-fulfillment but in obedience. It rests in the truth that God’s plans are always better than our own – even when we can’t see the full picture.
When our desires mirror His, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). Not because everything is easy, but because our hearts are at peace – centered on the One who is faithful and true.
Friend, the question today isn’t whether you have desires – we all do – but whether those desires reflect the heart of Christ.
A Closing Prayer
“Lord, search my heart. Remove anything that keeps me from desiring You above all else. Align my will with Yours. Let my dreams, my goals, and my daily thoughts be rooted in Your truth. May the desires of my heart bring glory to You, not to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Final Encouragement
When we allow God to shape our desires, we begin to live with eternal perspective. The world’s treasures fade, but a heart that beats for Christ leaves a legacy that lasts forever.
Let your prayer today be simple but powerful: “Lord, let my desires reflect Yours. Amen and Amen”.
Enjoy the additional encouragement in song. Click the link to hear the song pertaining to this week’s message of hope: I give you my heart (this is my desire) by Reuben Morgan