What do you want?  Have you ever been asked this question?  I don’t know about you, but for some reason I tend to feel that somehow it’s wrong for me to declare what I want.  Whenever I’m faced with the question - almost everytime I cringe.  Let me clarify that when this question concerns “little things” like food, clothing, comic books, DVD’s and vacation… there’s no problem.  However, when this question deals with the greater issues of life - like where I desire my life to be heading and what kind of impact do I want to make… major life decisions - somehow I “feel” as if I’m not entitled to what I want.  All of a sudden everything becomes an uphill battle in my mind, like I’m walking through sludge which restricts my movements!

Honestly, I feel as if what I want won’t line up with what God wants for me.  So I smother my desires, like you smother a flame to extinguish it, and I never ask.  But, how can I truly be ALIVE if I’m never honest with God nor myself?  How will I ever know God’s desires and dreams for my existence if I never place my will at His feet for examination? 

What’s the worst that could happen?  God could say “No.  This is not for you.”  Yeah, my dreams could be shattered and my heart broken, but God has a way of revealing things I’ve never even dreamed of - perhaps my dreams were too small and misdirected.  Well, God could say, “Yes.  Your dreams are headed in the right direction.  This is what I want for you.”  Well then, full steam ahead!  Either way… I win.  Either way… you could win as well.  But, to never be honest in the first place… we will always lose.

What do you want?  Do we even know what we want?  Have we taken the time to dig deep into our hearts or do we take our cues from this capitalistic, consumption-driven society in which we live?  Society tells us to want money, fame, power and material storage.  But how many times do we have to hear stories of individuals who had all of these things but no real and lasting happiness - before we actually believe these stories to be true?

What do you want?  Did you know that God asked Solomon the same question after he became King of Israel?  You know King Solomon don’t you?  He was the wisest man on the face of the earth during his time, who had enough material wealth that Bill Gates fortune would have looked like spare change after you break a twenty dollar bill.  Yeah… this King Solomon.  Check out this exchange.

“On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask!  What shall I give you?”  And Solomon said to God: ‘You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place.  Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.  Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?’  Then God said to Solomon: ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life - but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king - wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.’” (2 Chronicles 1: 7-12 NKJV)

The Bible is clear that out of all precious materials we could want - wisdom reings supreme.  This makes sense if you think about those who win the lottery or come into a rather large inheritance.  Those who have no wisdom… you know how it ends.  These people waste their resources and end up broke and most often worse off than before they became rich.  Talk about extremely bad choices. 

Wisdom: the ability to apply knowledge in the right, most conducive way that leads to a successful outcome.  (My definition) 

It would be wisdom, as we come into the new year of 2007, to dive beneath the surface of fanciful desires and momentary highs of euphoria and examine our hearts and minds to truly discover what we want.  Once we begin to answer this question, we will find another one rising to the surface from the deep: How are we going to get from where we are to where we want to be?  Contrary to popular belief, this question is not meant to deter us, but to spur us on!  Don’t let another 365 days go by only to find yourself exactly in the same spot this time next year.  Life is made to grow, but you and I force it to be stagnant by our decisions. 
If you want to be an author - then start writing.  If you want to be an archeologist, start reading books and watching programs about it.  If you want to get in shape - start to improve your eating habits and begin exercising.  When you begin to take the initiative, Other opportunities will make themselves available to you.  Do your research.  Develop a strategy.  Rarely does anything of substance last without a workable strategy that is being worked.

What do you want?  What do you need to do to get there?  Don’t be afraid to dig deep and examine what truly lies at the core of who you are -beneath those petty, lustful desires for the latest gadgets, expensive cars and the bling bling of shiny jewelry.  The rest of your life begins now.

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  (Psalm 37:3-4 NKJV)

Let me know what you think.

-Allen Paul Weaver III- 

Resource:  Read the book, The DreamGiver, by Bruce Wilkinson - if you’re serious about making some changes in 2007.

 

Filed under: Self-Help • Spirituality

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