Does God Change Unrighteous Longings?

[AudreyNicole]

Hello all,

So I just listened to a sermon about longing/desires and how to live with longing. He talked about patience, waiting, praying, etc... all the usual stuff... but I felt he left out one important topic. And that is unrighteous longing.

I suppose I would define an unrighteous longing as and longing for anything that is contrary to God's will for you, anything that is bad/evil, something less than God's best for you. In other words a longing in your heart that isn't from God. We have longings and desires that are from God, and then there are those that aren't.

So my question is this: As obedient, spirit filled children, will God change or transform unrighteous longings/desires if we ask Him to so that they conform to His will?

It seems to me like this would be part of His character as a loving Father; that if we surrender our plans and wants to Him, He will take them and mold them that they align with His plans for us. I guess I'm just having a little trouble because I can't seem to find any scripture or a verse that specifically promises this.

So, will God change unrighteous longings? And are there any scripture verses promising this?

 

[agua]

Loosing all longings for anything bad/sinful is part of the conformation all Christians go through. God helps by letting us know through the scriptures, through our brothers/sisters, and by the Spirit things that are not acceptable.
It is considered our "reasonable service" to live a life of sacrifice which includes resisiting wrong desires.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.


We know that God promises to make all things work for the good of those that love Him, so rest assured He will help us change.

 

[AudreyNicole]

Thanks agua for the reply.

It seems easy enough to determine sinful or evil desires, as most are clearly pointed out through scripture. But what about those things that aren't necessarily bad?

The Bible says the ways of a man are good in his own eyes. We may think what we want is good, but only God knows the best ways/plans/options. So how do we make sure we are pursuing the good things God wants for us and not our own "good" things?

 

[agua]

Unrighteous longings

Audrey,

Unrighteous longings are ones that are not just or holy, which implies they are wicked or sinful. I see you are talking about anything we desire or do in life. I don't believe there is only one path for each of us and God allows us to decide the details. If there is something in particular He wants you to do you can rest assured He will make this known. The thing our Father doesn't allow us to decide is the definition of holy. Remember we were saved for good works, to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, which means nothing we do should be in conflict with loving God or neighbour.
If you have a desire, and are concerned it may not be what God wants for you, check to see if it is something that can be used for His glory. Ask Him.
Our gracious and loving Father allows everyone the opportunity to explore this life and make their own way. If we commit our choices to God and walk in His ways we can be confident our desires will not be wrong.

Psa 37:3-7 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (4) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (5) Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (6) He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.


Proverbs 16:2 tells us that God is the judge of good/bad not us. We may be able to fool people with the appearance of "good" but God judges the heart and motives.

Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

So, if we have selfish motives for doing the good works of a child of God, He knows.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

So, will God change unrighteous longings? And are there any scripture verses promising this?

The Scripture I thought of, Audrey, is Jas 1:1-4. I chose this Scripture because it talks about the importance of perseverance in dealing with "unrighteous longings" aka temptations. Its been my experience that these "longings" do not go away completely, but, by persevering in faith over time we gain mastery over them through God's power that is at work in us (see Php 2:12-13).

SLE

 

[yort]

The Great War

Romans 7 is the story your talking about. A very good study will help you to understand better that this is common, I believe more so when you start exerciseing your Christian walk more. I've copied & pasted a few verses;

(KJB) Romans 7:15-24
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Good question. Stay strong Jesus loves you

 

[Brother Mike]

Wrong thinking.....

Yort:

Oh wretched man I am.............I want to do good.. but it's not in me...
Summary of Paul.... Rom 7.........

Paul gave the answer to this.... Keep reading...

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (The solution, Jesus!!!) So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Your answer...

AudreyNicole

So my question is this: As obedient, spirit filled children, will God change or transform unrighteous longings/desires if we ask Him to so that they conform to His will?

God has already done everything He is going to do..... Obedience to what he Already said will help out greatly....

The Word of God!!!

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.



Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.



The Word Changes and Transforms our thinking!!



Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.


God is not helping our disobedience to what he already said.
Stop asking God for Change, start obeying what he said.

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Think about it.


A stray cat comes to the door.... You say.. "Go away kitty.. go away." The cat meow's.. You feel it's hungry. You decide just this one time you will feed this poor stray Cat..

You feed the cat. Cat goes away, but comes back again..

You say. Go away Kitty, I am not keeping you. Go away!!!

Weeks go by......................

Though you intended to only feed the cat a few times.. Though you wanted the cat to go away... by your constant feeding and catering to this stray cat, You have now obtained yourself a pet Cat. Something you never wanted in your life..............

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[AudreyNicole]

Romans 7 is the story your talking about. A very good study will help you to understand better that this is common, I believe more so when you start exerciseing your Christian walk more. I've copied & pasted a few verses;

(KJB) Romans 7:15-24
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Good question. Stay strong Jesus loves you

Thanks for this... I suppose this is part of the battle of being human. I actually received wonderful reassurance from an article posted by Chad in the Church and Sermons section called Are You Limiting God's Blessings: http://www.talkjesus.com/church-sermons/38699-you-limiting-gods-blessings.html

It really reassured me of the power of faith and prayer and the ongoing work God does in us through those two things. I must admit I am still quite young in my walk, though God has been with me my whole life, I have only been truly saved for about a year. In this time I have been going through quite the wilderness journey, and I've never been through a trial with God before so I don't know quite what to expect. But here is what I think of His character in the situation of unrighteous longings... and hopefully who He truly is:

If a little girl goes to her father asking for an iPhone, her father will probably say "no" because she is too young to have one. But the little girl has reasons and motives that are good and right in her eyes. She says she just wants to be able to call or text her parents if she ever needs them, and she wants them to always be able to get a hold of her. Her father knows these are good reasons and appreciates her thoughtfulness and care, but he also knows that an iPhone isn't the best way to fulfill this desire; he knows there is a more practical way to help his little girl stay connected to them. Thus, he informs his little girl that her reasons are good, but the desire is off and goes on to show her something better to request of Him; something that will be more practical for her.

In this way I view the Father. There are things in my life that I think would be good, and things that I want, and plans that I make... but I don't truly know if these things are the best way or if they line up with His plans for me. So, in prayer, I surrender these things to Him and come humbly acknowledging my own infirmities, letting Him know my requests and petitions, but asking Him to correct and realign these things with His perfect will. Sometimes I feel like my will is too stubborn or reluctant for Him to change... though I know that isn't the case. My only desire is to want what He wants; to desire what He desires for me; to seek His plans and not my own; to pursue those things that are from His will and not my own; an to pray for those things He intends to give me and not waste my time with those things He doesn't. I don't want to waste my time on things that will only lead to disappointment or hurt; I only want to spend my time pursuing those things that He has planned for me.

So I suppose that's where all this is coming from, and why I seek scripture to support my prayers. I want Him to change my desires so that they are His, and change my will so that it is His.

 

[RJ]

He most certainly does!

From the very begining he shows us our unrighteousness wrong doings as sin. Most unsaved may out of a good conscience see some things they do as wrong but they have no way of relating it to sin and certainly that forgiveness comes from Jesus Christ.

God definetly changes our longings for unrighteousness.

 

[yort]

Good Job

Way to brother Mike Amen good finish