Christians, have you ever said to yourself, “I will …. when…?” For example, I will read my bible more, when I have more time. Maybe you’ve said, I will eat healthier when I can afford it. I will tithe when I have more income. I will witness to my coworkers when my life looks more physically appealing. I know for myself, I’ve made many of these declarations to God. Essentially, letting Him know that I have these great desires to serve and spend time with Him (and I will do it) as soon as He changes my position.
During a recent time of fasting, I was really pressing into God, and He was speaking to me rather clearly. At the same time He convicted me about the revelation of Adamantly Pursuing or Slowly Slipping Away, He made this statement to me, “I do not want you to make decisions based on your position, I want you to make decisions based on your desire.” Talk about a wake up call.
I have been one that has always “lived in the future” in my mind. I will do all of these great things, and I will make all these wise and mature decisions, when my position has changed and it will be easy or convenient to do so. God showed me through this utterance, that this is not the way He wants me to live. Now I have a better understanding of what God’s intentions are for us.
God wants us to read the bible because we desire to spend time with Him. God wants us to tithe because we desire to be in obedience to His commands. God wants us to love and serve each other based on our desire to love our neighbor as ourself. You see, too often we make decisions based on our position, and they are really empty acts to God. When we make decisions based on position, we are much like the Pharisee standing to pray, because of his position as a “religious” leader, he prays empty and arrogant prayers. Jesus favored the tax collector, whose position physically was low, but His desire was to be righteous with God. (Luke 18:11)
There is therefore now no condemnation for us Christians, but conviction about our actions can help us change the way we think and act, leading us to a more righteous life. If you find yourself making statements of the “I will…when…” persuasion, check your heart and see if it is something you COULD do now. If your thoughts live in the future, it will be impossible to please God in the here and now. Ask God to change your desires towards Him, ask Him to align your desires with His will. If you have a desire to serve and read and live righteously for God, then you will make decisions based on them and not wait until your position has changed.
God wants to change your position. God wants to promote, bless, and increase you in all areas of your life, but He wants your life in alignment and you to be true to Him before He puts you there. I’m now motivated to make deliberate “desire based” decisions, to be closer to God, to honor Him, to express my love for Him and to ultimately prepare for my greatest position promotion: to commune with Him in eternity forever. When you live this way, you can be anywhere at anytime in any test, trial or tribulation and be full of love for God no matter what the circumstances are. I pray that God show you areas where you can change your heart’s’ desire and focus, so that you can ultimately live and love closer to God now and forever, in Jesus name, Amen.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn and your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and patiently wait for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:4-7 (NIV)
May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. Psalm 20:4-5 (NIV)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-60 (NIV)
You may feel that Jesus was tough on this man, but you must realize the man was essentially saying, “I will follow you, when I have went and received my inheritance after my father is dead.” A prime example of I will…when…statements. The man’s decision was based on his position, not desire to follow Jesus.
Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-22 (NASB)
Two amazing examples of desire based decisions. These men left real careers, family members, possessions, etc because they had a desire to follow Jesus regardless of the cost.
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2016
roadcrew 40|3 
I have needed to read this over and over tonight.
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