The Root of Desire (The Set of the Heart)
I walked into the small study where he sat, a man well into his eighties, a full head of white hair, plus other typical signs of many years of life on earth, yet fit and spry. He noticed me and rose from his chair, bearing a genuine smile and a sparkle in his eyes that shot through my heart. I was stunned that I felt so compelled to speak to a man I’d only heard of from some mutual acquaintances. They hadn’t even talked about his demeanor, just that he had traveled the world, loved Jesus and loved people. He was the genuine article – someone who had vigorously lived his faith for decades, no matter where his feet had walked or where he laid his head, he lived it.
After a moment of looking at his eyes, and realizing he was looking even deeper into mine, I began by asking my favorite question: “If you could share with me the three most important things I need to know in life, what would they be?”
He put his index finger to his mouth for a few seconds, smiled and said, “Let me give you one that is foundational to anything and everything. Are you ready?” he asked. “Sure!” I said. “You must get to the root of desire! We all pursue what we desire, what we want. What is it people want? What is it God wants? Desire is the key! Once we want what God wants, we must pursue it with everything that is in us. This is the only way to fulfillment in life and as a follower of Jesus. You must get to the root of desire!” Those eyes danced with enthusiasm, passion and the desire of an older man passing to me the combined wisdom of eighty plus years as a precious gift, not knowing if I would be a fool and waste it, or take it in, meditate on it and put it to practice. I tell you this, he spoke those words to me one time, sixteen years ago and I have never forgotten them.
His name? I do not remember. His legacy to me? A living example of how life can be if I will only set my heart, my mind, and my passion on what God wants and pursue it like a thirsty man looks for water. I want that sparkle in my eyes - the genuine passion, the life and breath of God saturating my entire being as I pass through this very brief life on earth. It can be… if I want it.
After a moment of looking at his eyes, and realizing he was looking even deeper into mine, I began by asking my favorite question: “If you could share with me the three most important things I need to know in life, what would they be?”
He put his index finger to his mouth for a few seconds, smiled and said, “Let me give you one that is foundational to anything and everything. Are you ready?” he asked. “Sure!” I said. “You must get to the root of desire! We all pursue what we desire, what we want. What is it people want? What is it God wants? Desire is the key! Once we want what God wants, we must pursue it with everything that is in us. This is the only way to fulfillment in life and as a follower of Jesus. You must get to the root of desire!” Those eyes danced with enthusiasm, passion and the desire of an older man passing to me the combined wisdom of eighty plus years as a precious gift, not knowing if I would be a fool and waste it, or take it in, meditate on it and put it to practice. I tell you this, he spoke those words to me one time, sixteen years ago and I have never forgotten them.
His name? I do not remember. His legacy to me? A living example of how life can be if I will only set my heart, my mind, and my passion on what God wants and pursue it like a thirsty man looks for water. I want that sparkle in my eyes - the genuine passion, the life and breath of God saturating my entire being as I pass through this very brief life on earth. It can be… if I want it.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Duregger on -
Good advice, Steve, do you want it? Seek the Lord with all of your heart while He may be found!
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Permalink Reply by Tom Duregger on
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In order to understand and obey the Gospel, one must study God's word in order to know what God's heart truly is. I have listed some websites which I have used over the years and have found to be reliable and good for my growth in the Lord.
www.biblegateway.com Searchable online Bible in over 50 versions in 35 languages, Commentaries, & Study Helps.
www.bible.org The Net Bible. Complete downloadable and searchable public domain Bible on line. Extensive Bible study resources.
www.gnpbc.org/esv/devotions/every.day.in.the.word Daily readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, & Proverbs. "Listen" buttons with each passage, when clicked 2 times; it will be read to you. Click “Options” button to fine tune to your preferences.
www.ariel.org Ariel Ministries. “Come and See” is where to start for discipleship training. Extensive seminary quality Messianic Bible study materials, suitable for the new and/or maturing believer by Arnold Fruchtenbaum.
www.cfcindia.com Extensive reliable free downloadable written Bible lessons and more at: by Zac Poonen, 16 DaCosta Square, Bangalore, India 560084.
www.levitt.com Zola Levitt Ministries. A rich source of encouragement and teaching from a Messianic Jewish perspective. Online weekly TV programs, Bible Studies, News, & Bible teaching from Israel. They teach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.
Enjoy! The Lord bless and keep you my friend!
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Permalink Reply by Doug and Donna Spencer on -
Steve: What a great message in a simple story. It certainly causes one to think about it; at least for me it did. As different parts of the same body, that root will be different for each of us. Thanks for sharing.
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Liguori on -
Amen!
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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on -
Beautiful!
I see that God gives us the desires of our hearts. I used to think that meant I had to try hard (self-effort? striving?) to make myself want what God wants (not always easy to discern, in various circumstances), and then He would give me what I wanted.
I now see that as He continues to transform me, by the renewing of my mind (replacing the lies I've long believed with His truth, in big and small ways), I am becoming more and more like Jesus (having the Mind of Christ), by HIS, not my, doing. I cling to the Vine, and He flows through me (the branch), and He makes the fruit. I just bear it, but HE does it (way more wonderous than striving to make fruit pop!).
So, I see that He is now putting HIS desires within me ... so that my desires become His desires, again by His glorious doing! yeah! wow!
I also am coming to see that "you shall love the Lord with all your heart ... and love others as yourself," is not so much a command (for how can we, on our own, do that?), but a promise -- the result of Him living within us, transforming us from the inside-out, so that our minds come to line up with our new and shiny Jesus-infused hearts...!
Oh, He's so lavishly good!!!
Thanks for sharing your delightful story!
Shalom, Dena
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers."
"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West
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Permalink Reply by Mark A. Trippett on -
Thanks Steve for sharing that experience...What is it that God wants that we may pursue it? Does He want our lives, our obedience, our service, our Biblical knowledge? If so, He had that in me; at least so I thought based on my fundamentalist training and mindset. My resume once read a lot like Paul's in Phil 3:1-6. After He put me through His school of theology; beginning w. Alcoholism 101 (for me it was a 8 year course leading to an end of myself!), He has healed my broken heart He has shown me that my desire needs to be for HIM...He is inviting me into a life of intimacy & fellowship with Him. (1 Jn. 1:1-7)
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2 (NASB)
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NASB)
Only while we are in this pursuit will we know what the Father wants; will we see what the Father is doing and will know His passion and it will permeate our lives and we will do those things that He desires....
It sounds like the Lord connected you with a dear saint who had learned and was living just that. What a blessing!
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Permalink Reply by Dena Brehm on
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Ohhhhh, can I ever relate to your story!
My route was much the same, though I sub-specialized in Bulimia 101. My course took 21 years ... so, did I get my Masters and PhD, or did I just keep flunking the Basic course...? LOL! Methinks it was the latter...! ("Hmmm, that rock in the desert looks mighty familiar" she said to herself, not realizing that she'd just circled it for the umpteenth time!)
I'm thinking that while addictions do much damage, they do have a bright side -- having lived in hot pursuit of a counterfeit for so long, once we DO get to the end of ourselves, He can turn all that passion in the right direction, so that we live in hot pursuit of HIM...!
Wheeeeeeeee...!
Shalom, Dena
"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the
unquestioned answers."
"We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to
learn that it is God shaking them." - Charles West
Mark A. Trippett said:Thanks Steve for sharing that experience...What is it that God wants that we may pursue it? Does He want our lives, our obedience, our service, our Biblical knowledge? If so, He had that in me; at least so I thought based on my fundamentalist training and mindset. My resume once read a lot like Paul's in Phil 3:1-6. After He put me through His school of theology; beginning w. Alcoholism 101 (for me it was a 8 year course leading to an end of myself!), He has healed my broken heart He has shown me that my desire needs to be for HIM...He is inviting me into a life of intimacy & fellowship with Him. (1 Jn. 1:1-7)
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2 (NASB)
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NASB)
Only while we are in this pursuit will we know what the Father wants; will we see what the Father is doing and will know His passion and it will permeate our lives and we will do those things that He desires....
It sounds like the Lord connected you with a dear saint who had learned and was living just that. What a blessing!
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