Reshaping Our Hearts Desires Toward G-d’s Will
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” At first glance, this verse may seem to promise that G-d will fulfill our every earthly want. But a deeper interrogation of the scripture should reveal that this verse is not G-d’s endorsement of our wants, but rather about the transformation of our desires themselves. As we delight in G-d, He reshapes our hearts to reflect His will, shifting us from earthly cravings to divine aspirations. This profound change requires that we surrender our ego-driven longings, allowing G-d to instill desires aligned with His purpose.
Delight in the Lord: Move from Self-Centered to G-d-Centered Desires
To “delight in the Lord” is to experience joy in our connection with G-d and in fulfilling His mitzvot (commandments). The Ramban (Nachmanides) teaches that this delight comes when our highest joy is found in serving G-d. As we place Him at the center of our lives, our self-focused wants naturally fade, and our hearts become aligned with His divine intentions. Rather than seeking fulfillment in fleeting satisfactions, our joy becomes rooted in eternal values that transcend our earthly desires.
This shift is not a simple denial of personal wants but a redirection of the soul's energy toward kedushah (holiness). By delighting in G-d, our desires begin to reflect His will, moving us from the self-driven mindset of the yetzer ha’ra (the evil inclination) toward the yetzer ha’tov (the good inclination). This is a reorientation, in which we are no longer pulled by ego or materialistic goals but drawn instead toward G-d’s wisdom and kindness. As our desires transform, we find ourselves wanting what G-d wants for us, living in harmony with His greater plan.
Reshaping Desires: Redirecting the Yetzer Ha’ra to Embrace G-d’s Will
The yetzer ha’ra—the inclination toward self-interest—often pulls us toward gratification, comfort, and advancement. Though it plays a role in human survival, it also diverts us from our higher purpose. Jewish tradition acknowledges that the yetzer ha’ra is not inherently evil but must be redirected by the yetzer ha’tov, or good inclination, to fulfill G-d’s plan. Rav Shaul’s words in Colossians 3:5 align with this concept, urging us to
“put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” While we do not eliminate our earthly desires, we are called to subordinate them to higher, G-dly purposes.
Redirecting the yetzer ha’ra involves recognizing that personal ambition and comfort can interfere with long-lasting spiritual growth. The yetzer ha’ra, when left unchecked, can shape our lives around temporary, self-serving goals that disconnect us from G-d. Proverbs 16:9 reflects this, saying, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Though we may initially make plans based on our wants, G-d’s guidance ultimately leads us toward the path that aligns with His purpose. By choosing to follow G-d’s direction, we begin to reshape our longings, which are gradually sanctified to mirror His desires rather than our own.
G-d is the Source of Holy Desires
In the process of reshaping our inner lives, we come to realize that our truest, deepest yearnings—those beyond self and ego—are placed within us by G-d. The Chassidic work Sefat Emet teaches that when we genuinely seek to serve G-d, He plants sacred desires within us, which draw us toward holiness and purpose. These are not merely self-generated but are the yearnings of the neshama (the divine soul) that longs for unity with its Creator.
In Ezekiel 36:26-27, G-d promises,
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.”
Here, G-d speaks of a radical transformation, one in which He reshapes our hearts to align with His divine will. Rather than merely granting us what we think we want, G-d gives us new, holy desires that draw us closer to Him.
Rav Shaul similarly emphasizes this process in Romans 8:13, where he describes “dying to the flesh” and being “made alive in the Spirit.” This represents the spiritual journey of aligning ourselves with G-d by releasing our self-centered pursuits and accepting the desires that reflect His divine purpose. In so doing, we become vessels for holy intentions, expressing not our own wants but G-d’s will.
Unity with G-d’s Will: Fulfilling Our Ultimate Purpose
As our desires are shaped by G-d’s will, we reach a state of achdut (unity) with Him, where our longings are no longer self-driven but arise from a deeper place of alignment. This unity is a powerful transformation in which our individual aspirations become a reflection of G-d’s plan. King David captures this beautifully in Psalm 40:8, saying, “I desire to do Your will, O my G-d; Your law is within my heart.” David’s declaration reflects the ideal of aligning our innermost being with G-d’s desires.
In this state of unity, our former cravings lose their power. No longer are we drawn to the fleeting satisfactions of the world, but instead, we find true joy and peace in walking the path G-d has prepared for us. This is not about suppressing desire but allowing it to be purified, transformed, and elevated until our will and G-d’s will are one and the same. By delighting in G-d, our desires are sanctified, and we become co-creators with Him, carrying out His vision in the world.
Embrace a Life Guided by G-d’s Desires
Reshaping one’s desires toward G-d’s will is a journey of deep spiritual refinement. By placing G-d at the center of our lives, we gradually release the self-centered wants of the yetzer ha’ra and embrace the holy aspirations of the yetzer ha’tov. G-d becomes the source of our desires, guiding us not only in our spiritual lives but also in our actions, thoughts, and relationships. In this transformation, we find a fulfillment that goes beyond self-interest and brings us into harmony with the divine.
Rav Shaul’s teaching in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above,” speaks to this idea of lifting our thoughts and desires to reflect heavenly, eternal values. Rather than chasing temporary gains, we are invited to partner with G-d in manifesting His vision on earth. As we live in unity with G-d’s will, our lives reflect the peace, purpose, and divine love that come from being aligned with His eternal plan.
Through this process, we realize that G-d does not merely give us the desires we think we want but instead transforms our hearts to want what He desires for us. When we become vessels for His holy purpose, we bring healing, joy, and fulfillment to the world around us, making G-d’s kingdom a living reality on earth.
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