Desires are a major theme throughout the Bible. Human desires can lead us astray into sin and destruction, or they can be sanctified and directed toward righteousness. God promises to satisfy our deepest desires if we seek Him first. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about desires:
Desires of the Flesh vs. Desires of the Spirit
The Bible contrasts fleshly desires with spiritual desires. Fleshly desires originate from our sinful human nature and lead to sin and death. Spiritual desires come from God and lead to life and peace:
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:16-17)
Godly Desires
Not all desires are wrong. God has placed wholesome desires in our hearts that guide us toward righteousness:
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
“As newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—” (1 Peter 2:2)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
These verses encourage us to nurture holy desires for God, His Word, and righteousness. As we seek God first, He transforms our desires and brings them in line with His perfect will.
Danger of Following Sinful Desires
The Bible sternly warns us not to follow sinful desires. They seem pleasurable in the moment but ultimately lead to death and destruction:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:13-15)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)
“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” (James 4:2)
Unrestrained desires lead us into coveting, strife, and worse. We must crucify fleshly desires and not act on evil impulses.
Desiring Spiritual Things
While sinful desires destroy us, godly desires lead to life. The Bible encourages us to nurture a hunger and thirst for righteousness:
“As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)
“Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.” (Psalm 119:2)
“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)
When we seek God sincerely, He fills our hearts with desire for His presence, His Word, and His will.
Desiring the Wrong Things
Sometimes we desire things that are not inherently sinful yet distract us from God. These misguided desires lead us into idolatry of created things rather than worship of the Creator. Scripture warns against false desires:
“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)
“A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.” (Proverbs 13:19)
“Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)
Worldly desires like money, pleasure, and idle comfort never fully satisfy. We should be diligent in training our desires toward eternal things.
God Fulfills Godly Desires
The good news is that when we seek God first, He fills our hearts with right desires and grants them:
“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
As we walk with God, He replaces our sinful desires with new desires to know Him and do His will. He becomes our true satisfaction.
Asking God for Right Desires
Since desire patterns so deeply impact us, we should regularly ask God to cultivate right desires in our hearts and empower us to carry them out:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24)
“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86:11)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
Asking God to purify our desires keeps them centered on Him rather than fleshly distractions.
Jesus Christ Purifies Desires
If left to ourselves, our desires tend toward selfishness. But Christ can redeem even our desires when we surrender to Him:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and . . . put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
As we yield to the Lordship of Christ, He transforms even our deepest desires and makes us new creations.
Overcoming Worldly Desires
How should believers overcome worldly desires? Through the power of God’s indwelling Spirit, saturating our minds with Scripture, staying in close Christian community, and pursuing activities where our desires find righteous expression.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the desires of the flesh: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
Scripture renews our minds: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
Christian fellowship provides accountability: “Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Doing good redirects desires: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone” (Galatians 6:10).
Staying close to God day-by-day, through His Spirit, His Word, His people, and living out our faith, is how desires become transformed.
Desiring Heavenly Things
Since this world is passing away, we should fix our desires on eternal rewards rather than fleeting pleasures:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20)
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14)
The more we meditate on the surpassing glory of heaven, the less earthly desires entice us. Our desires drive us to vigorously pursue heavenly rewards.
Desiring Christ Above All
Most importantly, following Christ means desiring Him above all else. He alone can satisfy our deepest longings.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)
“For the sake of Christ, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him . . .” (Philippians 3:8-9)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:3-5)
Christ is the ultimate object of our desires. If He truly satisfies us, fleshly desires lose their grip.
In summary, Scripture gives us wise guidance regarding desires. By walking closely with God, we can overcome destructive desires and experience desires that lead to righteousness, joy, and everlasting rewards in Christ.