My Desire

Winter came. The leaves fell off the branches of trees. It was looking pretty bleak.

Until.

Until I saw something special in a tree in my neighbor’s front yard. It was beautiful. It was what I had always wanted (okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration). Still, it was something I never dreamed of being within my grasp.

My Grandfather on my Dad’s side had a hornet’s nest in his dining room. I believe my sister was with Grandpa when he spotted it. She stopped and asked if she could have it. There it sat in the dining room. Very much out of place in this formal setting.

The memories of that nest brought such a longing to my heart. I wanted that hornet’s nest!

My neighbor was out in the yard, so I ventured over and asked about the hornet’s nest in their tree. I wanted to know if I could have it!

It was given to me, so I started the research. I figured I’d be able to get it at some point, but how long would be a safe amount of time before cutting it out of the tree?

A Google search was all it took. I would just need to wait until I was certain there was no activity within the nest and cut it down.

So we waited.

We waited until it was a cold, cold day, pulled out the ladder and up my husband went to cut the branch out. With hornet’s nest in hand, I headed back to the house with my newest treasure.

I desired this nest. I would have done whatever was necessary to get it. But I didn’t know I desired it until I saw it. Until I knew it was there. Then, I wanted it more than anything!

Sometimes we know our hearts desire. For a young woman, finding the perfect mate is her desire. For a college student, a decent grade on a test is their desire. For an aging saint, heaven becomes a deep desire.

But then there are the times we really don’t know what our desire is until we see it. Like the hornet’s nest. Or a certain blouse. Or that large fish that just jumped in the lake. Then, that desire becomes important.

God has quite a bit to say about our hearts desires. Let’s see what His Word says.

First of all, Paul states, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out,” in Romans 7:18. We know what we want to do, but it doesn’t always come out the way we desired.

Fortunately for us, God forgives and He heals and He redeems and He satisfies. He satisfies our desires. “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:2-5)

David praised God for the abundance his nation had experienced. He also asked that God would help them keep their desire and loyalty. “O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.” (1 Chronicles 29:16-18)

The next few verses tell us that along with desire comes obedience and love.

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

“I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4)

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts.” (Isaiah 26:8)

I believe God also wants us to desire salvation of others. Paul states in Romans 10:1, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.” This verse specifically says the Israelites, but we can believe that God’s desire is for all to come to Him.

When it is all said and done, my desire is to be like Jesus. My desire is to see all come to know God and Jesus as their personal Savior. My desire is to know, love, and understand God’s Word so that I might live my life to honor and praise Him.

My hornet’s nest is not in my dining room…it is in a tree in a little nature scene I have designed above my front door. I can see this hornet’s nest each day and it reminds me of my Grandfather and what he meant to me.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna