Power of Desire

It’s taken me many years to understand this one principle and I wished I would have understood it so much sooner. It could have saved me a lot of grief and confusion to see this one principle.

The “Power of Desire” is so strong and it’s deeply rooted in our basic nature of sin. There is no one with magic words that will change the course of our intent if the intent has totally consumed us with getting our way. Only God can intervene and protect us from following through. The strongest of these I’m sure you know: Food, Sex, Alcohol, Drugs Tobacco. These are the most difficult because they are intertwined with bodily or physical pleasure and immediate gratification.

Have you ever got mad at God because He stood in the way of a sinful desire you wanted so much. I have. “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:15 This is simply saying that if we fulfill our sinful desire then we have some horrible consequences down the road.

In Luke 22:51-52 talks about when Jesus was arrested and Peter grabbed a sword and took a swing at the guard and cut off his ear. Immediately Jesus reached down, took the ear, placed it back on the man and healed it. You would think these people would have second thoughts about going through with their plans. It didn’t sway their purpose at all. Then later on the Jews were so adamant about crucifying Jesus. Nothing, absolutely nothing was going to get in their way of going ahead with their plans.

Jesus didn’t try to defend Himself in this kangaroo court because He knew it was a waste of time and words. The people had made up their minds and no one could change them. Still we have to remember that they didn’t take the life of Jesus, He gave His life. As He said earlier, “Don’t you know that I could call for 12 legions of angels and they would come and rescue me?” Matthew 25:53 Jesus was completely innocent of all charges and then the Jews spoke some of the most horrifying words in history. And all the people answered and said, “Let His blood be on us and on our children.” Matthew 27:25 I believe this is why the Jews have had so much pain and hardship throughout history. Remember the holocaust.

So how does this apply to my everyday life? Be on guard and not allow yourself to become obsessed with anything such as a person, place or thing. Once the obsession has taken over it’s very difficult to turn back without God’s intervention.

I have had several people approach me wanting me to talk to someone and see if I could help them to change their destructive life pattern. Many years ago this would appeal to my ego and I would arrogantly try to persuade them Of course it never worked. Now if anyone approaches me I know there is only one thing I can do and that’s pray for them. There is no one, no matter how clever they are and good with words can change their mind. All throughout the Bible it mentions several similar statements: Don’t waste wisdom on fools, don’t cast pearls before swine and so on. People that aren’t listening can’t hear. It’s that simple. Sounds like a teenager huh? If by chance I was to say anything that someone heard I know that it was God and not me.

It’s been said that the only person’s mind you can change is your own. This is not true once we become obsessed with a desire.