DEEP DESIRES
Step 1 | Quiet Your Heart
Take three deep breaths, breathing in the Spirit of Truth. Breathe out any fear or anxiety, or arrogance that would keep you from receiving what you need most—the light of God’s exhaustive and freeing knowledge of you—preparing yourself to be guided to all truth in the depths of your life within His life.
Step 2 | Open Your Soul
Read Psalm 139:9-12
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once commented, "It is remarkable that I am never quite clear about the motives for any of my decisions." Nailing down the desires that move our acting in the world can feel like trying to catch the wind or find our bearing on an endless sea (v. 9). Yet, says the psalmist, even there, in the swell of our emotions, the Spirit is leading us, His hand guarding and holding us steady (v. 10). Trusting that God has you and your desires, ask the Spirit to search the depths of your soul to help you see what is darkened by fear or pride or abandonment or wounds or sin: the true light of what you long for (v. 11-12).
Consider these questions, asking them of the Spirit, then listen to the still, small voice, and write down what you hear/see.
What am I motivated to do, to keep doing and getting better at for decades?
What have I truly loved thus far in my life?
What has uplifted my soul, dominated and delighted it simultaneously?
What tension or problem arouses great waves of moral, spiritual, and relational energy in me?
Let yourself sit in your responses for a while, finding a safe pasture for your soul to dwell in the depths of what you truly desire and Who truly desires you. Let the Spirit lead you, examening your desires and seeing if there is something more to them. Write what you hear.
Step 3 | Trust & Do…Dwell & Feed…Delight & Receive
Read Psalm 37:3-11
Often, we move from identifying what we want directly into going about attaining what we want. But the psalmist tells us our first step is simply to trust and do good, to live today and feed on the faithfulness of God, finding safe pasture in life with Him. Then, when our hearts are delighted in the reality of our life wholly enmeshed in His, can we receive from Him what we desire most. So, rather than writing out the next steps for getting what you want, write out what good you can do today for the people and in the roles and responsibilities already before you, letting your desires rest in the safe pasture of God’s faithfulness.
Step 4 | Commit
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light” (Psalm 37:5-6a)
Write out a prayer of commitment to the LORD as a prayer of gratitude, trust, and expectation of revelation.