Thoughts.
The objects of most of our desires are not evil. The problem is the way they tend to grow, and the control they come to exercise over our hearts. Desires are a part of human existence, but they must be held with an open hand. … The problem with desire is that in sinners it very quickly morphs into demand (‘I must’). Demand is the closing of my fists over a desire. Even though I may be unaware that I have done it, I have left my proper position of submission to God. I have decided that I must have what I have set my heart on and nothing can stand in the way. I am no longer …comforted by God’s desire for me; I am threatened by it, because God’s will potentially stands in the way of my demand. … There is a direct relationship between expectation and disappointment, and much of our disappointment in relationships is not because people have actually wronged us, but because they have failed to meet our expectations.”— Paul Tripp
I think it can be easy enough to make sure you don’t have a close hand over desires, to keep your hand open by checking on your heart and with accountablity, but releasing the hand that has already gripped desires, locked in on the demand, now that is difficult. I’m not sure how to go about that.
It’s so frustrating that you can say with words what you believe, what you know, what you want, etc but that your heart is what holds the truth about what you think and want and that it’s even easier to lie to yourself than it is to lie to others. Sometimes knowing the truth and believing the truth don’t cross paths. And thats a weird place to be in. Thats a torn place to be in.
Little lessons about trusting God and not ourselves or our skewed veiws of God:
1. Know who God was talking to when you read the bible, know the context. Put 100% faith in any of God’s Scriptural promises that apply to you, but don’t depend on promises meant for someone else, thats dangerous, thats not what God wants you to do.
2. If you’re thinking “God told me this” or “This is what God wants me to do” ask yourself when He said so, and how you know that it was Him. If you’re leaning on your feelings, or the clues you’ve gathered, remember you’re fallible. Scripture says our hearts are deceitful. You may be setting yourself up for a big fall.
3. We have to remember that God is mysterious, that his ways are mysterious, and He’s never out of options. Just because we only see one way of things turning out, doesn’t mean it’s the only thing He sees.
4. Pray more for God’s will and less for what you think the best outcome is.
