How can we ensure our desires align with God's will, per Ezekiel 20:32? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 20 recounts Israel’s long history of resisting God’s commands, climaxing in verse 32: “When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never happen.” The Lord lovingly but firmly declares that the self-chosen plan of His people—imitating pagan nations—will fail. Their desires are out of sync with His covenant purposes. The same warning, and hope, guides us today. The Heart of the Matter • God’s will is fixed, righteous, and good (Psalm 33:11). • Human desires, when untethered from Him, drift toward idolatry—anything we place above God (Romans 1:25). • Ezekiel 20:32 shows that God not only judges misplaced desires; He also overrides them for our ultimate good. His “no” protects us. Why Our Desires Drift 1. Flesh versus Spirit: “For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17). 2. Conformity pressure: “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). 3. Forgetting past grace: Israel forgot God’s mighty acts (Ezekiel 20:8-9), and we can too. 4. Impatience: Like Israel, we can want quick fixes rather than faithful obedience (Exodus 32:1). Practical Steps to Align Our Desires • Daily Scripture Intake – Let God’s voice set the agenda. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). – Read prayerfully, expecting correction and guidance (2 Timothy 3:16). • Honest Self-Examination – Ask: Which desires dominate my thoughts? (James 4:1-3). – Identify any “wood and stone” equivalents—career, relationships, entertainment, comfort. • Renewed Mindset – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). – Replace worldly metrics of success with God’s priorities (Matthew 6:33). • Spirit-Led Living – Walk by the Spirit to avoid gratifying the flesh (Galatians 5:16). – Yield moment-by-moment; depend on the Spirit’s power, not sheer willpower. • Community Accountability – Israel’s downfall was collective; so is restoration (Hebrews 10:24-25). – Invite trusted believers to speak truth when desires veer off course. • Delighting in the Lord – “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). – As we treasure Him, He reshapes what we want so that His gifts line up with His will. Promised Help from God • New Heart and Spirit: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). • Faithful Shepherd: “I myself will search for My sheep and seek them out” (Ezekiel 34:11). • Unbreakable Covenant: “I will be their God, and they will be My people” (Jeremiah 31:33). God’s initiative ensures that realignment is possible; our role is responsive obedience. Encouragement to Persevere When our desires rebel like Israel’s, God’s grace intervenes. He lovingly blocks harmful plans (“what you have in mind will never happen”), redirects us to His better way, and promises strength to keep choosing Him. Keep returning to His Word, keep yielding to His Spirit, and watch Him shape desires that truly satisfy. |
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