Are your desires luxuries, or directives from God?

December 6th, 2011 by Agent Kevin Miller

OK, I’m gonna take some fairly big, Biblical liberties, and mix them with some truths. Please go with the analogy, I’m not a scholar, and my book smarts aren’t the point (thank goodness).

In Genesis, the Israelites were held captive in Egypt. Slaves. They were given shelter, food and work. Maybe a beating here and there, but ‘it was a living’.

But, God told Moses to lead them out. Where? To the Promised Land.

As soon as things got hard on the journey, the Israelites, being led OUT OF SLAVERY, complained to Moses and God that they’d be better off back in Egypt where at least they were fed a solid meal three times a day.

So, this journey and escape didn’t seem like a ‘have to’ to them? Hmmm…

Then get this, the Promised Land was said by God to be a ‘land of milk and honey.’ I think that is a big, huge deal. Why? Cause neither are a necessity. Contrary to the American Dairy Association’s efforts to brainwash us, milk and dairy is 100% unnecessary to the human diet. Many cultures around the globe eat no dairy, nor any other animal’s milk products, and they are in far better health and having less disease than us who have been duped in the western culture. And honey? It’s sugar. Again, totally unnecessary. Milk and honey together…freeze it and you have ice cream.

So the Israelites are thinking…”This incredibly long, arduous journey when things weren’t horrible, to a ‘nicer’ place that has lots of ice cream. We like ice cream, but it’s not like it’s a necessity like whole wheat and spring water. Do we really have to do this?

YOU. God has put desires on your heart. Earthly, tangible desires. A Promised Land could be a place for you to live. Milk & honey may be some things that inspire you. Remember, doesn’t have to qualify as an absolute necessity.

What arguably non-necessary, desires-of-the-heart do you have? Things that keep haunting you, pricking you, keeping you up at night, interrupting your attempt to just exist?

My request:

Post them below. A few words, a few sentences, a bullet point list, a novel.

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  • Gary Barkalow

    I am unsettled by the diminishment, dismissal and side-lining of individuals who carry the image and glory of God – be it through the relentless assault of the world and Satan or the abuse and abandonment of people.  I am disturbed by the quick-fix teaching and counsel about calling that ultimately disheartens people, distancing them from God.  I absolutely love when I see the glimmer of the vein of gold that runs through a person’s life, but more importantly, when they recognize and own the glory of their life.

    I love and am compelled to help people recover their heart, walk with God, interpret their life, offer their glory, and persevere with joy.  I want to spur others on toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24), warning those who are idle, encouraging the timid, helping the weak. (I Thess. 5:14)  I know that my impact is limited, so I want to come alongside others who are compelled to do the same.  (Calling/Glory) I am to do this by bringing clarity, focus, design and intentionality to others. 

    • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

      Gary, I just so appreciate your use of the words “unsettled’ and “disturbed”. This topic welled up out of me today, but should have included you. You don’t happen to be free in about 26 minutes…do you?!

  • Jim Henry

    41…  WOW!  You’re right in there between my oldest two.  I hope you have an absolutely blessed day!  You are a blessing to me.  As for the blog, about two months ago someone very close to me said, “I’ve something to say to you and I know you won’t like it.  (My thought was, then don’t say it, but they went ahead)  Why don’t you get a real job?”  Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him who sent me.”  My work is His work.  I’ve never made lots of money doing ministry, and presently I’m stretched more than ever before, but I have experiences with life and people that few have had.  They have so satisfied my hunger for fulfillment that I didn’t need to eat.  THAT IS THE PROMISED LAND!  And maybe, just maybe, the money is not far around the corner.  God bless you today.

    • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

      Just get a real job. Just go back to Egypt. Do what’s easiest. That same person probably watches sports and criticizes a player for not doing MORE. I’m sure they don’t desire to say, “Hey buddy, just go stay safe on the bench.” Mammon…few are safe from it’s pull. Keep the faith my brother!

  • Brett Traudt

    Freedom is a huge desire… not just in Christ, but having the finances so I don’t have to work a job. More time to invest in my relationships… with my family, with God and myself. I have been investing in these relationships, but to have financial freedom that gives freedom to my time and less stress on my heart… that is what keeps me up at night… my dreams for a better life, a free life! A life where I know that what I do has made a difference in the life of my family and someone who needs to hear my message… my story. 

    • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

      Christ’s call is always, to freedom. Bondage to nothing but him. We just water that down so we can fit it in the margins outside our society’s box. You’re doing it Brett…you’re pulling away…!

  • http://www.facebook.com/snookfly John Snook

    Kevin, This Quote from “Wild at Heart” has caused me to think along the same lines you talk about in today’s question. 
    “Men past forty Get up nights, look out at city lights and wonder Where they made the wrong turn and why life is so long.”

    For the last month I have woken up at 1 or 2 in the morning looking out at the houses across the street, their porch lights are on mostly for security reasons but it really makes me mad….frustrated. I can’t really get inspired to do much of anything in my life living in the concrete jungle. It would be a desire of my heart to live on 50 or 100 acres, to be able to look out and see the stars as God meant them to be viewed. To raise my own food and live a self-sustaining life style. To traipse through the woods being inspired by the beauty and wonder of all creation. My thoughts have taken me to dream about settling in to my house in the woods, setting in a easy chair built for two with my wife by my side sipping on some hot beverage nestled up close to a roaring fire. I can see the flickering of the flames and I can hear the snap and pop of the wood burning and the smells and aroma’s fill the air. The moon lit sky allows me to see the snow falling through the window and it is truly a spectacle, a picture of beauty and wonder. I have opened my eyes and have woken to the harsh reality……the neighbors porch lights.
    I am not sure if these thoughts of mine are “non-necessities” but they are my dream, my land of milk and honey so to speak.

    John

    • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

      that’s the point though…didn’t God often call people, to tangibly, earthly non-necessities? And brother…you can step in here. I wanted what you describe above. First, I moved into the area where it could be possible. Then spent 5 years with it growing more possible each day…then it came true. The fruit from it shows us now, that in fact, none of it was non-necessity. You can have most of what you describe above…now. Come, seek, rent, comprehend, faith grows, opportunities present themselves…

  • Anonymous

    I have these strange and strong desires to take photographs of people and images.  I get mental images of pictures, and have strong desires to make them reality.  When I’m around people, I have a strong desire to want to capture their likeness.  I won’t die if I don’t take the pictures, but the compulsion is strong.

    • http://www.freeagentacademy.com Kevin Miller

      I’m gonna rail on this in the show…in a good way my brother!

  • Coach4him

    Kevin – very Happy Birthday to you!   Also….very refreshing, in an ice cream sort of way (all natural of course!) blog post.   We underestimate at times the value of leaving behind things in life in our journey to new destinations. I really needed a breath of fresh air today….thanks for supplying it…Bruce

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Krislyn-Santana/100000839125054 Krislyn Santana

    To live in the present be really here and concious of what is going on around me. To take the time to slow down in this concrete jungle of fast paste life where going on full high speed is still not fast enough. to just slow down. stop. take a look around take a deep long breath and just appreciate what is around me. nature, ever green trees, fall colors, this great non-winter weather, my noisy, lovely, jesus loving children.

  • Melodie

    OK – Kevin, something I so want, but know that I don’t need – is a house with a fabulous view of the mountains on a bit of acreage – not as many as what you have or what John S. desires but – at least over an acre. This house is big enough to comfortably sleep friends and groups of friends visiting from out of town and around the world and has enough rooms so that each is set up and ready for people to play games, snuggle up in a cozy corner (lots of them in this place!) with a cappuccino, or prepare for a dip in the pool (oh, yes, this home has one of those, too!)  Plus lots of rooms for brunches and dinner parties – extremely essential!

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