WHAT IS YOUR BURNING DESIRE IN LIFE? Surely you have one. Everyone has something that they long to achieve. Many folks would say they want financial security. One thing is for certain—it’s becoming increasingly difficult to steer clear of the literal hundreds of “work at home—get rich today” ads that swamp our media, whether in print, online, in your mailbox, or on TV. I came across one recently which I would like to present to you—and I would like for you to watch carefully for a key phrase that crops up more than once in the sales pitch.

“Do you have a burning desire to work at home, earn a great income, go on company paid vacations, and build a secure financial future? We will show you how! Imagine your future! Do you have a burning desire to change? You can do it! You can live the life of your dreams!”

There is a website called “Burning Desire.” It’s geared specifically to the needs of the “get-rich-quick-by-working-at-home crowd. EntrepreneurSite.com recently highlighted an article entitled, “The Importance of a Burning Desire.”

What is your burning desire? What one thing above all others, drives you, pushes you, motivates you to focus upon it to the exclusion of all others? Fame? Fortune? Power? Influence? Knowledge? Whatever it is, it will likely occupy our time, energy, and ability. Not a bad question to ask ourselves as we approach a new year, don’t you think?

In Psalm 84, the writer pours out his soul in worship, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

No doubt about what his burning desire is. He wants to dwell wherever God dwells. He knows that all the things we strive for in this life will one day be left behind. The only permanent acquisitions are relationships.

If you take time to read the whole Psalm, you will discover that knowing and serving God above all else, will ensure you a place to hang your hat, your heart, your soul, and, in fact, your entire being.

THANKSGIVING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. Well, actually, the attitude of gratitude is much more than a “once a year” observance. Most of us already know that if we live a life of thankfulness, we will be healthier and happier because of it. This is especially true when we remember that this virtue is not the result of outward circumstances, but of the realization that God’s love flows to us, no matter what.

In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, a German pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried 5,000 of his parishioners in one year! That’s an average of 15 a day. You see, his parish was ravaged by war, disease, death, and economic disaster.

In the midst of all that darkness, with the cries of fear and pain outside his window, Pastor Rinkart sat down and wrote this table grace for his children, which was later put to music and sung by countless millions over the generations to follow:

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.
Who, from our mother’s arms,
Hath led us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.

Here was a man who knew that a thankful attitude comes the realization that God’s love is real, lasting, and constantly available. No amount of suffering can blot out that truth.

Apparently, Rev. Rinkart had adopted the same way of thinking that consumed Habakkuk in 3: 17,18: “Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

I’VE READ A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT COURAGEOUS DETERMINATION, but this one may top them all, especially in light of our observance of Veteran’s Day. It’s from Senator John McCain’s book, “Faith of Our Fathers.” It took place in a prison in North Vietnam.

Mike Christian was a Navy bombardier-navigator who had been shot down in 1967. He came from a very poor background—hadn’t even worn shoes until he was 13 years old, but he was rich in character. He enlisted in the service when he was 17 and was soon recognized as having strong leadership qualities. It wasn’t long before he was offered a commission.

POW’s weren’t allowed to receive much during those days, but Mike did, from time to time, get a package from home which contained handkerchiefs, scarves, and other clothing items. He took scraps of red and white cloth, and with a needle he fashioned from a piece of bamboo, he somehow managed to sew an American flag on the inside of his blue prisoner’s shirt. Every afternoon, before they ate their soup, they would hang that flag on the wall and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Well, one day the guards discovered Mike’s flag and confiscated it. He paid a heavy price for that flag. They took him outside and beat him severely. They punctured his eardrum and broke several ribs. And when they were done, the guards threw him back into his cell, bleeding and broken in body, but not in spirit. Before drifting off to sleep, his cell-mates happened to glance his way and couldn’t believe their eyes. There was Mike, with his eyes nearly swollen shut from the beating, with needle and thread, back at it again. By the light of a dim bulb, he was fashioning a new flag.

And who can say how much that symbol inspired the others to keep their hope and faith alive during those terrible months and years. Thank God for the vets who suffered because of freedom’s call. We honor their commitment and sacrifice for our sakes.

I WAS OUT FOR MY MORNING WALK THE OTHER DAY, when my eyes fell on something rather startling. I have about four different trails that I take, weather permitting, but my favorite one includes a rather steep incline (good for the heart, you know). As I was descending, this guy was coming up the hill, with something on his back that in size resembled the largest suitcase I own.

I thought to myself, “Is this fellow crazy? Is he a weekend warrior on a training mission? Is he fulfilling a hazing assignment? What’s the deal?” I mean, the sweat was running down his face (which, by the way, was very, very red) and he was gritting his teeth. Maybe he was trying to lose weight or get in shape. I don’t know, but I could see that he was on a mission—eyes straight ahead, so I didn’t want to bother him with a question.

My mind immediately went back to something I had read a long time ago in that Christian classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. The main character in the book, Christian, is on a journey to the Celestial City and he is dragging quite a load along with him. As he ascended the top of a hill, he saw the cross and his burden fell off and his heart became light because he had been relieved of his burden.

I wonder how many people are carrying an unnecessary load of guilt or some other hurt or hang-up from the past? The Apostle Paul has some advice for us here: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up (Hebrews 12:1, NLT).
If your life is a drag, it may be because you’re toting stuff that’s slowing you down. Take a few minutes in prayer to release those situations, one by one, to God’s control. Then humbly ask the Lord to fill you with His truth and wisdom.