Proverbs 11:23

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about our desires:

Proverbs 11:23 (ESV)

The desire of the righteous ends only in good,

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

In the Garden of Eden the women, Eve, was tempted by Satan, disguised as a Serpent, to disobey God.   The Scripture says that when she saw the forbidden fruit she had a desire to eat it because Satan had told her it would make her wise.  Read it yourself:

Genesis 3:6 (NASBStr)

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate..   

Her desire was not Godly.   Her desire was for her own lust and her own advancement.   The "desire" (Hebrew word for "hope") of the wicked only results in "wrath."   It produces wrath in our lives.   The above proverb tells us that when we have Godly (righteous) "desires" (Same word used in the negative in Genesis 3:6 in regard to Eve's desire) it amounts only to good.   The most important aspect for us to note is that the desires we have in our heart have more to do with "why" we are desiring something, versus "what" we are desiring.  When we desire the things that God wants for us, it is good.  When we desire the things God doesn't want for us, it is bad, wicked and results in wrath.   Our desire is not the question.  Our motive behind the desire is the issue.   When we have a wicked heart our desires amount to wrath in our lives.   When we desire what God wants for us we have good in our lives.  No matter what He wants for us.   We can handle anything if we have a desire to please Him.  That should be the desire of our hearts.  In Hebrews the writer tells us that God actually gives us the things in our lives we need to please him.  That would include righteous desires:

Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV Strong's)

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

God equips us with the desires He wants us to have.