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It's easier to desire the life God wants us to have

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  • Brandon Leonard •
  • Originally published January 16, 2009 at 5:04 p.m., updated January 16, 2009 at 5:04 p.m.

We have been discussing how to break free from the things that hold us down and make a fresh start in 2009. I said earlier that in order to do this, we need to get rid of the labels that people put on our lives, and we need to recognize that God is the only one who knows what is best for us because He made us.

Today, I want to consider a break-free principle that is a little harder to talk about, but which is just as important: It always pays to want what God wants in our life. The hard part is that it's easier to desire the great life God has for us than it is to do what's necessary to experience that life.

My illustration today is a Bible character that we don't usually hear a lot about because he is not what you would call an admirable person. It's Judas Iscariot, a member of Jesus' band of 12 disciples who ended up betraying Jesus and setting Him up for crucifixion.

In one sense, Judas has gotten a bad rap. He was the betrayer, but he also had good in his life. Judas had to be willing to be a disciple or he would have never been chosen to be one of the 12 apostles. He was also among those who heard every sermon that Jesus ever preached and saw all of Jesus' healings and miracles. And when Jesus gave His disciples the power of perform miracles and even raise the dead, Judas was among them.

I also believe that Judas wanted the best for his life, but here's where he got in trouble. Judas began to believe that he knew better than God what was best for him. So he began to plot against Jesus and betrayed Him, possibly thinking that if he forced Jesus to confront the authorities, Jesus would rise up and overthrow the hated Romans and take charge.

That may be what Judas wanted, but it wasn't God the Father's plan and will for Jesus. Judas was pursuing his own desires for his life instead of God's desires, and he paid a terrible price. We can learn from his mistake. No matter what area of life we're talking about, the wise thing for us is not to assume we know better than God, but to come to Him and say, "God, what is Your desire for my marriage and my family? What is Your will for my career?"

If you will seek God's will for your life instead of following your own desires and plans, I can guarantee you two things based on the authority of God's Word.

First, God will put within you the right desires and give you the power to bring those desires to pass. (Psalm 37:4)

Second, you will discover that God's plan for your life is much better than any plan you could ever dream up on your own. (Ephesians 3:20)

Are you ready for a new you this new year? God is waiting to help you become all he created you to be.

Jim Graff is the Senior Pastor of Faith Family Church in Victoria, TX. www.faithfamilyvictoria.com



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