Avoiding Selfish Desires and Developing Godly Desires

In order to pray effectively, we need to heed the advice in Romans 12:1-2 and avoid the things listed in 1 John 2:15-17.

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction Key to Answered Prayer. It explains that 
God promises to fulfill the desires of our hearts, but only if we delight ourselves in Him. 

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 

In order to pray effectively, we need to heed the advice in Romans 12:1-2 and avoid the things listed in 1 John 2:15-17.
1. Note the selfish "delights" mentioned in the passage below.
 

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 

If any of these things are distracting you from God's purposes in your life, ask God to help you obey the command below:

Matthew 6:33: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

2. The passage below explains how we can change our selfish desires to God's unselfish desires.

Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We transform and renew our minds by spending time in God's Word, time in prayer, and time in Christian fellowship.

Are you developing godly desires?


Copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2014, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2023

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