Aligning Our Desires with God's Will
Summary
Today’s teaching centered on the deep struggle between our selfish desires and God’s will, as revealed in James 4:1-3. We all know what it’s like to want something so badly that it colors our prayers, our relationships, and even our view of God. Like the story of my classmate Ryan, who sought friendship for his own gain, we often approach God with a similar mindset—seeking what we can get, rather than seeking God Himself. This tendency isn’t new; it’s as old as humanity, and James’ words are as relevant now as they were to the early church.
James exposes the root of our quarrels and disappointments: our passions are at war within us. We ask, but often with the wrong motives, desiring to spend God’s gifts on ourselves. Yet, God’s heart is generous—He longs to give, but He gives according to His perfect will, not our fleeting wants. The example of Solomon in 1 Kings 3 is a powerful reminder: when we seek God’s wisdom and His heart above all else, He not only grants our request but blesses us beyond what we could imagine. The key is aligning our desires with His.
But this is not easy. Our hearts, as Jeremiah says, are deceitful above all things. We are prone to trust in ourselves, to measure God’s goodness by how well He meets our expectations. When prayers go unanswered, we may doubt His love or power. Yet, the truth is that God does not need us—He wants us. He pursues us, not because of what we can offer, but because of His relentless love. Through Christ, we are made righteous, and our relationship with God is restored.
The invitation is clear: turn from self-centered desires and pursue God’s will. This happens as we immerse ourselves in His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts. As our desires change, we find that God gives us what we truly need—Himself. Our lives become fruitful, not because we strive harder, but because we are rooted in Christ, the true vine. Today, whether you are far from God or simply in need of renewal, the call is to repentance, to seek God’s heart, and to trust that His will is always for our good and His glory.
Key Takeaways
- The battle between our selfish desires and God’s will is ongoing and universal. James teaches that our quarrels and disappointments often stem from desires that are misaligned with God’s heart. Recognizing this internal war is the first step toward genuine spiritual growth. [05:39]
- God’s generosity is not limited, but it is always directed by His wisdom and love. When we ask according to His will—like Solomon did for wisdom—God delights to give, often beyond what we could imagine. The pursuit of God’s will, not our own, is the path to true fulfillment. [10:48]
- Our hearts are naturally deceitful, leading us to trust in ourselves and seek temporary satisfaction. Jeremiah’s warning reminds us that trusting in our own strength leads to spiritual dryness, but trusting in the Lord roots us in life-giving streams. The fruitfulness of our lives depends on where we place our trust. [17:17]
- Unanswered prayers can reveal the motives of our hearts. When we find ourselves frustrated with God, it’s often because we are more focused on our own needs and expectations than on God’s purposes. Honest self-examination and repentance open the way for God to transform our desires and deepen our relationship with Him. [19:24]
- Abiding in Christ and immersing ourselves in God’s Word is essential for aligning our desires with His. As we walk by the Spirit, our hearts are gradually transformed, and our prayers begin to reflect God’s eternal will rather than our fleeting wants. This is the ongoing work of sanctification, made possible by Christ’s finished work on the cross. [28:37]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - The Challenge of Living Out James
[01:39] - Struggles of the Early Church
[02:18] - A Story of Selfish Friendship
[03:15] - Foxhole Prayers and Selfish Motives
[05:39] - The War Within: James 4:1-3
[06:49] - God’s Generosity and Pursuing His Will
[08:25] - Wisdom from God: Proverbs and Solomon
[10:48] - Solomon’s Request and God’s Response
[12:33] - The Deceitfulness of Our Hearts
[14:01] - Jesus on Hate and the Power of Desire
[16:32] - Jeremiah’s Warning: Trusting in the Lord
[18:42] - Confession: Wrestling with Unanswered Prayers
[21:25] - Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law
[23:43] - God’s Desire for Us
[24:45] - Invitation to Repentance and New Life
[27:55] - The Necessity of God’s Word
[28:37] - Walking by the Spirit
[29:52] - The Transformation of Our Desires
[31:44] - Abiding in Christ, the True Vine
[32:54] - Communion and Self-Examination
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Battle Between Our Desires and God’s Will
*(Based on James 4:1-3 and supporting passages)*
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### Bible Reading
James 4:1-3 (ESV)
> What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
1 Kings 3:9-14 (ESV)
> Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
> It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (ESV)
> Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
> Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
> The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
> “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to James 4:1-3, what does James say is the root cause of quarrels and fights among believers?
2. In the story of Solomon (1 Kings 3:9-14), what did Solomon ask God for, and how did God respond to his request?
3. What does Jeremiah 17:5-10 say about the difference between trusting in ourselves versus trusting in the Lord?
4. In the sermon, what example did the pastor give about a classmate named Ryan, and how did it relate to our motives in relationships and prayer? [[02:18]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James say that sometimes our prayers go unanswered? What does it mean to “ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions”?
2. How does Solomon’s request for wisdom show a heart that is aligned with God’s will, and why did God bless him beyond what he asked for? [[10:48]]
3. According to Jeremiah, what are the consequences of trusting in our own strength instead of trusting in God? How does this relate to spiritual dryness or fruitfulness? [[17:17]]
4. The pastor mentioned that our hearts are “deceitful above all things.” What are some ways this deceitfulness can show up in our prayers or expectations of God? [[16:32]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about how we sometimes approach God like Ryan approached friendship—with selfish motives. Can you think of a recent time when your prayers or actions were more about what you could get from God than about seeking God Himself? What would it look like to shift your focus? [[02:18]]
2. When you experience unanswered prayers, how do you usually respond? Do you find yourself doubting God’s love or power, or do you take time to examine your motives? What might help you respond differently next time? [[19:24]]
3. Solomon asked for wisdom instead of riches or long life. If God asked you, “What do you want me to give you?” what would your honest answer be? How can you begin to desire God’s wisdom and heart above your own wants? [[10:48]]
4. Jeremiah describes two kinds of people: one who trusts in themselves and one who trusts in the Lord. In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own strength? What is one step you can take this week to trust God more in that area? [[17:17]]
5. The pastor said that abiding in Christ and immersing ourselves in God’s Word is essential for aligning our desires with His. What is one practical way you can make time for God’s Word this week, either alone or with others? [[27:55]]
6. The sermon invited us to honest self-examination and repentance. Is there a specific desire or motive you need to bring before God and ask Him to change? How can the group support you in this? [[24:45]]
7. The pastor described the Christian life as a continual process of turning from self-centered desires to God’s will. What is one area where you sense God calling you to repentance or renewal right now? [[25:41]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for God to reveal any selfish motives in their hearts, to align their desires with His will, and to trust in His goodness and generosity.
Devotional
Day 1: The Battle Within—Desires at War in Our Hearts
Our hearts are often a battleground where selfish desires and God’s will collide, leading to conflict both within ourselves and with others. James reminds us that quarrels and fights stem from passions at war inside us, and that when we ask God for things with selfish motives, our prayers go unanswered. The call is to recognize these inner battles and to seek God’s will above our own, trusting that He knows what is best for us and desires to give generously when we align our hearts with His purposes. [05:39]
James 4:1-3 (ESV)
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Reflection: What is one desire or motive in your heart right now that you need to surrender to God, asking Him to align it with His will rather than your own?
Day 2: Pursuing God’s Will—The Generosity of God
When we pursue God’s will instead of our own, we discover that God is abundantly generous, giving us not only what we need but often more than we could imagine. Jesus teaches that when we give, forgive, and seek God’s heart, blessings will overflow in our lives—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The measure we use with others and with God is the measure that will be used with us, and God delights in pouring out His goodness when our desires are shaped by His will. [07:46]
Luke 6:38 (ESV)
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Reflection: In what area of your life can you intentionally pursue God’s will today—perhaps by giving, forgiving, or serving—trusting that God’s generosity will meet you there?
Day 3: The Gift of Wisdom—Asking Rightly Like Solomon
God delights in giving wisdom to those who seek it with humble and sincere hearts, as seen in Solomon’s request for an understanding mind to lead God’s people. When we ask for wisdom, not for selfish gain but to discern good from evil and to walk in God’s ways, God is pleased and responds generously. This example encourages us to examine our motives in prayer and to seek God’s heart above all, knowing that He honors those who desire His wisdom and guidance. [12:33]
1 Kings 3:9-14 (ESV)
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
Reflection: What is one area where you need God’s wisdom today, and how can you ask for it with a heart that seeks His will rather than your own advantage?
Day 4: Trusting God Over Self—The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart
Scripture warns us that our hearts are deceitful and prone to trust in our own strength, leading us away from God and into spiritual dryness. Yet, those who trust in the Lord are like trees planted by water, flourishing even in times of drought. God searches our hearts and knows our true motives, inviting us to place our trust in Him rather than in ourselves or in fleeting desires. This trust leads to a life that bears lasting fruit and experiences God’s blessing. [17:17]
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (ESV)
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Reflection: Where are you tempted to rely on your own strength or understanding instead of trusting God, and how can you shift your trust to Him today?
Day 5: Abiding in Christ—A Transformed Heart and Eternal Focus
True transformation comes as we abide in Christ, allowing His Spirit to change our desires and align our hearts with God’s eternal will. The Christian life is a continual process of repentance, turning from selfishness and temporary fulfillment to pursue God’s purposes and bear fruit that lasts. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word and seeking the Spirit’s guidance, we nurture a heart that is increasingly shaped by Christ, living each day to glorify God and to love others as He loves us. [29:52]
Galatians 5:16-18, 24-25 (ESV)
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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. … And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can abide in Christ and keep in step with the Spirit today, allowing Him to transform your desires and actions?
Quotes
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