“What do you want me to do for you?” (Matt 20:32 NIV)

When I was really young, my life’s aspiration was to be with my parents forever. I was so content to be with them. Now I live on another continent, on the other side of the world from my birth place. What happened?

As I grew, my greatest desire changed. Now I wanted to own a bike. But when I received one, I hardly ever used it.

Next I dreamed of having a girlfriend. But this dream only brought heartache and turmoil.

My next goal was to obtain a good career, a lovely wife and obedient children … Now here’s a dream that I continue to cherish! But does it truly fulfill the deep, hidden longings of my heart?

As I consider all of this, I realize that I never really knew what I wanted. When I took the time to reflect on these words that Jesus often repeats in the gospels: “What do you want?” I see that deep inside, the hidden (and mostly unrecognized) desire of my heart is to grow closer to the Lover of my soul.

John the Baptist said it so well: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 KJV) I want God to become my sole adrenaline, my only obsession. I want to be so intimate with Him that at all times I will know His will. Why? Because I now realize that His will is so much more exhilarating than my own! I want Him to be my sole adventure, the only thrill of my life, because a life with God is so much more adventuresome and thrilling than any life I could imagine in this mundane world.

While visiting the region of Dunedin on the Southern Island of New Zealand, I discovered the power of air and water. The mighty are humbled by their mere presence. Huge boulders (See the Moeraki Boulders) are brought to nothingness, and when compressed, these two natural entities can move 18.5 tons of canon (The Disappearing Canon at the Royal Albatross Centre appears and disappears using hydraulics).

But though these simple elements of nature can demonstrate outstanding power, they are truly nothing compared to what our God can do in our lives! “Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.” (Rom 8:1-2 The Message)

What do you really want from God?

Be honest now. Scrutinize the depths of your heart and search for the real answer to this question. As you do so, you will discover that you want much more than what you have deemed satisfying in this life. No matter what you have accomplished or experienced in this life, your desire for true adventure and intimacy, living deep in the recesses of your heart, is unsatisfied. You are aware, though maybe only unconsciously, that no one and nothing on this planet can ever satisfy these deep, inner urgings. They can only be fulfilled through the Most High, Creator of All and Saviour for all eternity.

What do you really want?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Fearless Victory!” devotional series, please click here.)