In our last Monday Morning Devotional, we discussed the dangers of desires that are allowed to run unchecked and unrestrained. Although such a mindset is praised by our current culture, it is actually a dangerous reality, leaving us very susceptible to the temptations and traps of the enemy. One of the most important protective measures we can implement for our lives and homes is to establish a primary guiding principle regarding desire. Elevating this desire to the status of a top priority in our lives serves both as protection and as a guiding system in everyday life, requiring us to subordinate certain desires while prioritizing others.
The Prime Directive
My desires should align with God’s desires. This is a simple statement but deeply impactful as it ripples through our thoughts, lives, and homes, creating a truly transformational experience.
The simplicity of the statement often causes the primary desire or directive to be overlooked. Well-meaning people bring their desires to God and ask Him to bless those desires, or even better, they ask God if these desires are correct. That is the wrong starting point, though. We do not begin by qualifying or considering our own desires. Instead, we must start by considering and understanding God’s desires. Do not overlook this step. It is highly effective in its ability to change the entire dynamic of how we live and operate.
Psalm 145 is a song that celebrates the majesty of God’s glory and kindness. Hidden within it is a distinctive statement in verse 19 that directly addresses this concept of desire.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
The word desire in that verse is different from the Hebrew word usually used for the English word desire in the Old Testament. (I mentioned last week that the Old Testament idea of human desire was normally negative, but this is different.) It comes from the Hebrew word rason. Rason means the accepted will. It is a desire that aligns with the will of God.
There is an architecture of support for the desire that is emerging within the human heart here. It is not simply born of our own will or preferences. It is a desire that primarily longs for the things of God. Authorized desire, desire born out of the prime directive, is not created by my own will but comes from a proven pattern of pursuing call, calling upon Him in faithfulness, and staying close to Him.
Look at how this is laid out in the verses that surround this idea of rason.
The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire [rason] of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever. Psalm 145:17-21
Our media-saturated age fills our lives with a focus on glitz and glamour. Fame, celebrity, and wealth are presented as the pinnacle of happiness and the fulfillment of desires. However, this is all an illusion. Look beyond the enhanced photos and carefully crafted reels, and you’ll find a darker reality. The fulfillment of personal desires does not lead to happiness. The 2025 World Happiness Report shows that people in the developed world—where comfort and instant gratification are just a click away—are becoming less happy. Depression and anxiety are on the rise, and more people die by suicide than homicide.
The fulfillment of personal desires does not bring us the contentment we expected. In fact, this way of life often leads to the opposite. How we manage our desires is key to the quality of life we experience. Biblically based desire occurs when God’s desires become our primary focus. This is the divine plan outlined in Psalm 145.
Does that mean our personal desires disappear? Not necessarily. It means they are subordinated to the primary desire. This is the plan that God can use to bring us happiness, contentment, and fulfillment by fulfilling the desires (rason) of those who fear Him first. In some cases, our personal desires may need to be set aside. Perhaps they will be picked up again in the future, or perhaps not.
In 2015, I experienced this on a deeply personal level in an episode that, in hindsight, was likely a defining moment of my life. I had spent three years writing and researching a book on a topic that was dominating the news and society. The timing felt perfect. I saw the storm coming, and my research, perspective, and insight were far more developed than those of any other political or Christian writer I had encountered. Yet…I could not get the blessings to move forward with this project from the spiritual leaders in my life. They never officially said, “No. Don’t do it.” But I never sensed their blessing on the path ahead.
My personal ethics required that I not act independently. I kept waiting and hoping for their blessing, but it never came. Finally, during an early morning run in spring 2015, I realized the blessing wasn’t coming, and I had a decision to make. I could either pursue my own desires or submit to what I believed was God’s plan. I remember the exact spot when I prayed these words: “God, I want to publish this book with every fiber of my being. It’s a good book. It’s an important book. BUT, I want your will more than my own. If this isn’t in your plan and if this isn’t what you want, then I don’t want it either.”
It might seem strange if you weren’t aware of the effort and sacrifice behind writing that never-published book, but that heartfelt prayer was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. Still, it was the right choice. My life became defined not by what I wanted or saw as good and right, but by God’s preferences – even when they didn’t make sense at the time.
The New Testament describes this as dying to self in various passages. Our personal or fleshly desires should not be the main motivators of life for citizens of the Kingdom of God, as they are for people of this world.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
This is the essence of prime desire directive. Our main desire should be for God’s desires. If we depart from that plan, we might get what we want, but in the end, it could destroy our lives and our homes. True and proper desire must always originate in Him!
This article was initially published as our Monday Morning Devotional.