IS PASSION GUIDANCE FROM GOD?

FINDING YOUR PASSION
The word "passion" has been a buzz word for some time in art, business, sports and even in the church.

Music is said to be played with "passion." An athlete has a "passion" for his sport. We are advised to find something we have a "passion for" when choosing a career.

There is certainly some truth in finding our "passion" but we must also realize that passions may come and go. A friend of mine wanted to become a doctor when he was young. He did achieve his goal and as far as I know is still finding fulfillment in his field.

But many children who dream of being fireman, athletes or doctors end up doing something far different in life. Some out of necessity or circumstances, others because the passions which so powerfully drew them in their youth were merely a passing fancies which they outgrew with time!

Recently in the church world,  passion seems have become synonymous with a call or leading from  God.

There are aspects of this view that we should be concerned with:


1. Our passions may change!
- Some may be like my friend with a certain passion for one thing which remains consistent and
  unwavering.
- The passions of others may be passing whims, i.e. wanting to be a rock star.

2. God may ask us to lay down our passions.

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 2:1-3

The desires (passions) of of the flesh and of the mind are part of the old nature of the Christian. They are the DEAD things which GOD MADE US ALIVE from!

If you are one of these Christians who have a close walk with God, it may be that your passions are more closely in line with God's heart. God has a way of changing our desires as we grow in Him!

4 DELIGHT YOURSELF ALSO IN THE LORD, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.
5 COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD, TRUST ALSO IN HIM, AND HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS.
Psalm 37:4-5

We can see how delighting ourselves in God will result in God molding and changing our desires!

We must acknowledge that all passions and desires are not necessarily a leading from God!

We will not be able to accurately follow God's will simply by following our "passions!"

When we first come to Christ, we have many desires to do things for the Kingdom of God! Many, including myself are prone to have "flight of ideas" and want to do many things  in our untempered, untrained zeal. Perhaps it is Christian ADHD! It can be desired with absolute sincerity but still be misguided.

One may dream of becoming a world class musician and actually do indeed see that dream come true. Others find that they do not have the gifts, means or talents to make their dreams a reality.

Far more tragic are those who do see their dreams come true by following their "passions" but have not included God in their plans. Later in life they regret having lost God, peace of mind, family or even their own souls by their own admissions!

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:24-26

GOD DOES GIVE US PASSIONS!

 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Philippians 2:13

But we must also realize that not every desire or passion is from God!

Our passions must be filtered through the inward work of the Holy Spirit within us!

We must first lay down our lives then pick up our cross, surrendering all desires and passions which are  not pleasing to God. Then God can implant and inspire us with passions that are according to His heart and will accomplish His perfect will.

Some of our desires are not intrinsically bad or wrong. They can be often be very GOOD but are an inferior substitute for God's BEST!

Some desires feed our own natural gifts and talents and move us toward self-dependence rather than  leaning on God!

Bring your dreams and passions to God today and ask Him to burn up on the altar, those which are born of the flesh or wisdom of man!

Then ask Him to implant His perfect desires into us and reinforce and grow those which are born of God!

THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT!
John 3:6