What Do You Want?

Let’s start with a question that’s simple on the surface but goes much deeper than you might think: What do you want? Take a moment to really think about it. What’s that one thing (or maybe a few things) that’s at the top of your mind?

You might be thinking, “Is this a trick question?” It’s not—there’s no right or wrong answer here. But I do want you to engage with it. If you’re reading this at home, grab a pen and some paper, or just open up a note on your phone, and write down your answer. What do you really want?

Maybe your thoughts go straight to relationships—family, romance, friendships, or even a relationship you wish you could repair. For others, it might be something more tangible: a new house, a car, or that dream vacation you’ve been thinking about. Or perhaps your mind goes to something more personal, like better health, peace, or happiness. Whatever it is, jot it down.

Now, let’s take a step back and consider this list. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He didn’t start with our wants. He started with, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.” This is a big shift—our greatest desire should be for God’s will to be done in our lives. So, as we move forward, keep this in mind: How does what you want align with what God wants for you?

It’s easy to get caught up in our own desires, isn’t it? We’ve all got things we want, and it’s natural to pursue them. But Jesus challenges us to shift our focus from our own wants to what God wants. And why? Because when God’s will is accomplished in our lives, that’s when we find true success—not the kind of success the world talks about, but the kind of success that’s measured by how closely we’re aligned with God’s purpose for us.

This brings us to an important question: Can you agree that fulfilling God’s will should be your top priority? If so, the next step is to align your desires with His. This isn’t something you decide once and then move on from—it’s a daily commitment to letting God’s will guide your life.

We all have two paths before us. We can chase after what we want, or we can pursue what God wants. Every day, we make choices that reflect which path we’re on.

For many of us, coming to church or spending time in God’s Word is part of this journey. We’re here because we want to grow, to be challenged, and to become more like the person God intends us to be. We come together to worship, to learn, and to realign our lives with God’s will.

The challenge today is to make sure our wants align with God’s wants. If we truly desire happiness, success, and fulfillment, our desires must reflect what God wants for us. The first step in this process is agreeing that God’s will should be our top priority. But agreeing isn’t enough—we have to put it into action.

So, let’s talk about what it looks like to actually live this out. It’s one thing to agree in theory that God’s will should be our priority, but it’s another to let that truth shape our daily lives.

Paul gives us a powerful example in the book of Romans. For the first 11 chapters, he lays out the incredible story of salvation—how God has set us free from sin, rescued us from its penalty, and given us new life, new hope, and a secure inheritance. This is more than just a churchy concept; it’s the reality of what Jesus has done for us. He didn’t just save us—He rescued us from the grip of death and set us free to live for Him.

Paul continues in Romans 12:1 by saying, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

This idea of being a living sacrifice isn’t just about going through the motions; it’s about living a life that’s fully committed to God. It’s about choosing, every day, to live for His purposes rather than our own.

This isn’t something we do out of obligation. Paul isn’t barking orders at us—he’s coming alongside us, encouraging us to see that this is the best path forward. When we truly understand all that God has done for us, it makes sense that we would want to live in a way that pleases Him.

Living as a sacrifice means more than just doing what God asks—it means doing it with the right heart. God isn’t interested in hollow obedience; He wants our hearts to be fully in it. When we offer ourselves to God, we’re called to do so in a way that’s holy and pleasing to Him. It’s not about being perfect, but about continually growing, continually moving toward a life that reflects His holiness.

Paul goes on to say in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation is key to living a life that’s pleasing to God. It’s about letting go of the world’s standards and letting God’s truth reshape our thinking.

This world is full of values and desires that don’t line up with God’s will. If we’re not careful, it’s easy to get swept up in what everyone else is chasing—money, status, possessions, relationships. But Paul is clear: If we want to live lives that are holy and acceptable to God, we have to resist the pull of the world and allow God to transform us from the inside out.

This transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a daily process of renewing our minds, spending time in God’s Word, and letting His truth guide our thoughts and actions. As we do this, we begin to see things differently. Our priorities shift, and we start to desire what God desires.

Living in God’s will isn’t just about the big decisions—where to work, who to marry, where to live. It’s about the everyday choices, the little moments that make up most of our lives. Paul talks about the importance of being transformed so deeply that even our spontaneous reactions reflect God’s will. This is where the daily renewal of our minds comes into play. When we spend time with God and let His Word shape us, it changes how we think, how we respond, and ultimately, how we live.

So, as you think about your own life, where do your desires line up with God’s will, and where might they need to be realigned? Maybe you’ve committed to following God’s will before, but over time, other things have crept in and taken priority. That’s okay—this is a chance to recalibrate, to refocus on what really matters.

As we think about this commitment, let’s remember that it’s not just about what we do—it’s about why we do it. We’re called to live as living sacrifices, not out of duty, but out of a deep desire to please the One who has done so much for us.