I will not attempt to do this topic in any great detail. For the subject contained in these following pages will only have the thoughts I have collected from my meditations on this devotional, just like I have been doing since I first began keeping a Devotional Journal.
The term "Desire" simply means: "To wish or long for; crave; covet."
The word "Will" means: "The power of making a reasoned choice or decision or of controlling one's own actions. A strong and fixed purpose."
By comparing both definitions of the words above in a spiritual context, we can see that just having a mere "desire" to worship and serve God is not enough. One needs the "will" to put the "desire into action! Desire suggests thought, whereas the will suggests the action. Desire is the weak element of our will. (It is the desired thought not yet born into action.) Our will is the strong aspect of our desire (It is the motivated desire to do!) Motivation comes from the source of our "will," it should not come from our "desires"alone. For our desires are always subject to change, because it lacks the focus of the will. Only if our will is in submission to our Lord's divine will, then is our desire "God given."
We cannot stir up the natural desire to worship God, other than stirring up the desires and passions of our flesh. This desire is not found in ourselves, it comes from God alone. To summarize the truth in relation to the believer's "Will and Desire" to worship and serve God: "either our will fuels our desire to worship, or our desire fuels our will to worship God." Consider the four points below.
1. "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek..." (Psalm 27:4, NKJV). The two words "One thing" suggests the psalmist's aim or goal. A set purpose focused on a particular goal or object (or person, place, or thing). "I have desired" shows us the psalmist's intent (motive) towards "the Lord." Notice the word "desired" is in the past tense. This speaks of David's commitment and devotion to the Lord brought about in the past. In Psalm 27 the word "will" is mentioned eight (8) times. Six times the word "will" is referred to David; then once to God's will. Lastly the term "will" is connected to the desire of David's enemies (See verses 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12). Note in verse 4 the phrase, "That will I seek..." now compare this to verse 8's "..Your face, Lord, I will seek." The "will I" in verse 4 gives us David's will and desire in "I seek."Which is ahead of the word "will," whereas in verse 8 we see the reverse. The "I will" reveals to us the "I" behind the "will." This order seems to indicate the correct, for it gives us the sense of our "will" (being God's will) dominating our desires. Desires come and go, because they are associated with our "feelings." We cannot trust in our desires for God. However, if one's "will" is yielded to the control of God the Holy Spirit, then is our desire to please our Lord both firm and determined. The "I will seek" in verse 8 then becomes the fixed purpose!
2. "Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you." (1 Sam. 20:4, NKJV). The friendship that David and Jonathan shared is perhaps one of the most beautiful and loyal examples of friendship described in the Holy Scriptures. In chapter 18 verses 1-4 we see Jonathan's love and devotion to David expressed. Now in chapter 20: 1-42 we see Jonathan's loyalty to David put to the test. As one can observe from this chapter, Jonathan proved true to his word. What a lovely picture Jonathan makes of how a consecrated believer should be in his devotion to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which David is the OT type of. May this encourage our hearts to be more faithful and loyal to our gracious Lord. Even if our desire for Him is weak, remember Psalm 38:9, "Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You." Yet, David could later testify of God's faithfulness to him, "He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved" (Psalm 62:2). David would not have used such words above, if God did not prove true to His Word! In a sense, Jonathan's quote in our text "Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you" (1 Sam. 20:4) really shows the submission of his "will" to David. In other words, Jonathan was prophetically echoing the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 22:42, "Nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done." He desired David's will over his own will.
3. "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5, NKJV). These were the last words that Scripture records of Mary (the mother of Jesus). What a wealth of truth she has left behind for us to learn! The word "Whatever" in the text above suggests "in all things." The phrase "He says to you" speaks of His "desired will." Our part is to "do it." Oh may we join the psalmist's in his desire, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8).
4. "And whatever His soul desires, that He does" (Job 23:13, NKJV). Job understood that God's judgments were righteous and holy. His will was the divine "will" that has the right to rule over all other wills. Why? Because God's will alone is perfect, whereas man's will is dyed in sin and rebellion. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Whatever God desires, He does! For example: He "..is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). He is merciful and gracious toward us. God also desires to bless us, listen to the words of God to Abraham, "I will richly bless thee, and greatly multiply thy seed, as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies" (Gen. 22:17, JND). Most importantly, God's desires are fueled by His "..great love with which He loved us" (Eph. 2:4, NKJV). Also, His desires are pure and holy. Being of such character, God wishes for each of His children to be holy just like Himself (see 1 Pet. 1:15-16). Since there is only One true God, then there is no god above Him to answer to. He alone, has the final say in all things pertaining to man, "For I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9-10). Only God Himself has a "Will and Desire" that is "not" subject to any authority, especially man's. For He is the Supreme Authority! (See 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19;16).
As we can see from all that has been said above. Our "Will and Desire" plays a key role in both our lives and how we approach God in worship. If we seek to worship God in accordance to just our "desire," we will find ourselves only worshipping God when we "feel" we are at our best. This of course never works, because when are we all ever in the right or perfect condition to worship the Lord? We are to come to God with our "will" surrendered to Him, then we will be in the right condition to offer up worship to the God we love and adore. Oh, to praise him more!
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