| 1:40 MIN READ |

Desire is an essential element of life. It inspires and motivates us. It causes us to set goals and go after them. It moves us forward. As long as desires are holy and healthy, they are a good thing.

Sometimes desires go haywire, however. A good thing can become a bad thing when it’s out of control. The desire for a piece of cake after dinner is likely fine occasionally, but eating an entire cake, and doing it every evening is over-the-top. It’s a desire gone haywire.

The Bible refers to inappropriate and uncontrolled desires with a single word — lust. While we usually think of lust as something sensual, it’s more than this. Lust is a desire for anything that is either inappropriate or uncontrolled — without proper boundaries and restrictions.

Lust leads to all kinds of problems. It drives many of our bad decisions. A desire for material things can drive us into debt. Lust for sensual pleasure can lead you into unhealthy and destructive relationships. Lust for power can cause you to compromise ethics to get it. The list could go on and on.

Lust is a condition of the heart. It gets inside us and demands satisfaction. It’s something that has to be dealt with at a heart level. This is why King David prayed a very specific prayer after lust led him into his illicit relationship with Bathsheba. Look at what he prayed in Psalm 51:10 (TLB) “Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.”

Has lust found a place in your heart? Begin praying the same prayer David prayed. Deal with your inappropriate and uncontrolled desires at a heart level. God will help you, and you’ll avoid unnecessary pain in your life.

Pastor Dale

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