What is the deepest desire of your heart?

Be careful in answering too quickly. We may say what we want it to be: world peace, family time, nurturing or mentoring others, or a restored kingdom. But the desires of our heart are closely tied to where our thoughts and our time most frequently take us: escape from the world to the sofa, to sports, to the news, to time alone.

That isn’t to say that we don’t aspire to greater things. We do. They just so often get drowned out by the pressures of life. It is at times like these that we need to be still and hear God’s counsel and direction for us.

There is a true story recorded in 1 Kings 19, where Elijah is running for his life because Jezebel had threatened most severely to kill him. “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life,” cried out Elijah. Then there was a mighty wind, but God was not in the wind. Then an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake. This was followed by a fierce fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a gentle whisper that spoke to Elijah.

We have to turn off the other noise of the world to hear the whisper. Otherwise, we miss out on God’s direction for us. Find a quiet place each morning and throughout the day to “Be still and know that (God) IS God.” (Ps 46:10)  There you will find the desires of your heart.