What God Wants by Paula Harrington

Have you ever heard someone justify their sin by saying, “God wants me to be happy”? Does God want our happiness in spite of his will for our lives? Sometimes what we think we want and what God wants are extremely different.

What Moses Wanted

Moses would’ve been very happy to stay in his comfort zone. God came to him in the desert (Exodus 3), on the mountain of Horeb. However, Moses offered excuses. He didn’t think he was the right person for the job. There had to be a better speaker or a more qualified person to lead God’s people.

What David Wanted

The king would’ve been delighted to see his plans put into action. David wanted to build the temple for the Most High God (2 Samuel 7). It concerned him that the ark of God remained in a tent, yet his seemingly excellent idea wasn’t approved by God.

What Elijah Wanted

Elijah would’ve been content to call it quits. The prophet was so distraught that he prayed for God to end his life (I Kings 19). Instead, God offered encouragement by showing his mightiness and informing him of the 7,000 others who had not bowed their knee to Baal.

What God Wants

Does God want our happiness? Absolutely, as long as our desires line up with his will but more than our happiness, God wants our broken hearts and messed-up lives. He wants our love (Matthew 22:37). He wants us to give ourselves to him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

He wants us to love one another (John 15:12, I John 4). He wants us to seek each other’s interests above our own (Philippians 2). He wants us to search the Scriptures (I Timothy 3:16, 17). He wants us to endure (Revelation 2:10).

There may be times when we’re not sure what we want but our God never has that problem. He knows exactly what he wants. He wants us to come home.

Be ready.