Sometimes I get confused about desires.  I long for so many things in the course of a day it’s hard to even keep track.  My body yearns for another hour of sleep.  I crave a bacon egg and cheese biscuit.  I desire to feel close to God.  I hope to please my wife.  That coffee smells good, but I might get the shakes…anyway, you get the picture.  Calvin said our hearts are idol factories, so what’s an idol and what’s a legitimate desire?  It’s often hard to discern.  Larry Crabb, in his recently released book 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that Invites you into His Story (Incidentally, if you’re part of the FPCO church family, you’ll recognize that this book was highlighted in the monthly newsletter but was quickly checked out of the church library.  I don’t know anything about that.), provides some interesting thoughts on the matter.  He writes the following (remember, he’s having an imaginary conversation with God):

["God, am I not supposed to want things to go well for me, to do what I can to make better my life and the life of those I love?  Am I not supposed to ask you for good health, godly children, a happy marriage, a decent income, or safe travel when I go on vacation?"

"It's not what you want that is wrong.  It's what you want the most.  When you want your life to go well more than you want to know and please Me, you relate to Me and to others in ways that violate My nature."]

Crabb reminds me that it’s alright for me to desire a nice house, a comfortable income, a healthy family, good friends, time to do something fun, and a fancy meal every now and then.  However, when those things become my demand or if my pursuit of them is more passionate than my desire for intimacy with God I know I’ve crossed over into idolatry.  So maybe we should ask ourselves today, “What do you want most?  What do you spend your time thinking and dreaming about?  What would your friends and family say you are most passionate about?”  [Ouch.  That last one could be really convicting.]  Augustine wrote, “Our hearts were made for Thee, O Lord, and restless ever will they be, until they rest in Thee.”  Let’s all resolve to be aware and intentional with our desires today–just don’t stop at the bacon, egg and cheese.  Long for a warrior-king who created you in his image with dignity and honor, suffered humiliating pain,  conquered death and evil, keeps you in the palm of his hand, and promises to make all things right in the end.  Maybe you could go so far as to hope that even the wrongs you’ve suffered can be made right.

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