Hints of Purpose in the Desires of Your Heart

When I first gave my life to the Lord I knew that I was starting a journey that I would never come back from. Something deep inside me had completely shifted. I was resolute immediately to give God all that I had including my plans for the future. Thinking back is very interesting because things I’m doing now I wanted to do then. I had a desire in my heart to one day preach, and one day write music and books. God wants to redeem and use the desires of your heart to bless the world.

There were hints of purpose in the things I was passionate about. It’s amazing how looking even further back I realize these desires were in me from a young age. I took speech in High School and enjoyed it even though it wasn’t easy. Reading and writing is something I’ve always loved. I started writing two books on my first computer at the age of twelve. In my early teens I started playing guitar and writing music. It’s not a coincidence those things keep surfacing in my life. Now I am enjoying God using those hopes and dreams.

“Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself–it tends only to evildoing.

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. [Isa. 57:13c.]

For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found. [Heb. 10:36, 37; Rev. 21:7, 8.]

But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. [Ps. 37:29; Matt. 5:5.]”

– Psalm‬ ‭37:3-11‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

What are the Desires of your heart?

Many of us don’t recognize the things deep down that we really want. This is because they have been hidden away. Life has taught us that it is childish to dream and it’s embarrassing to let anyone see the secret things we long for. When we do let the desires of our heart see the light of day we feel naked and all the scars are exposed. These are wounds left behind when big dreams were crushed and replaced with something small.

Spend a moment now with God and think back on what you have desired in life. They are hinted at when examining your past because they surface even though you’ve learned to hide them. I don’t mean only holy aspirations, but things like a love for animals, poetry, gardening, hiking, or fast cars. These passions combine and reveal a purpose that is unique to you.

What voice will you listen to?

When we think about things like this a voice comes into our minds. It says things like:

• Who has the time?
• What’s the point?
• These things are silly.
• Don’t waste your life on childish dreams.
• You’ll never achieve what you hope for.
• You’re weird for liking that stuff and if anyone finds out you’re different they won’t like you.

But God has said:

• Trust in Me and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on My faithfulness.
• Delight yourself also in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart.
• Commit your way to Me, trust also in Me, and I will bring it to pass.
• I will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
• Rest in Me, and wait patiently for Me

(adapted from Psalm 37:3-7 NKJV)

Which one will you listen to? Those dreams inside you become holy when you submit them to God. He’s telling you that it’s ok to have them. He knows your heart better than you do and He loves you. He created you to be passionate and to dream and create with Him. If you let God in those places of your heart He will redeem them and bring them to pass. Rest and wait on Him and He will use your dreams to bless you as well as others.

What should you do about it?

Does that mean quit your job so you can spend all your time gardening and driving fast cars? Maybe. But it could also mean to give yourself some room to have these dreams. Take them to God and ask Him what to do with them. He will give you ideas at the right time. Ask Him to show you His purposes in them and how they might bless you and the world around you.

Be bold and tell us the dreams you’ve had in the comments below. If you already know what God wants to do with them or how He has used them, share that too!