What does the Bible say about a Christian's desires?

In Galatians 5:17, Paul illustrates the conflict within believers, stating, 'You cannot do the things that you would.' This highlights the reality that, while God instills a desire for righteousness in His people, they are still bound by sin and its effects. As Christians, we can be thankful for the desires the Lord grants us but must also acknowledge our weaknesses that hinder us from fully obeying those desires. John Newton emphasizes that believers often find their best intentions in prayer, Scripture, and communion with Christ thwarted by their inability to act as they wish, reflecting the pervasive influence of indwelling sin.

Throughout life, believers experience a series of internal struggles where their hearts yearn to know God more intimately, yet they fall short. Newton underscores that while Christians possess a keen recognition of God's sovereignty and goodness, they often resort to complaint and despair in seasons of trial, forgetting these truths. Hence, Christians must continually look to Christ and rely on His grace, knowing that it is through weakness that they learn to appreciate His strength and salvation more fully.