We are looking at two scriptures Psalm 23 and James 1:4 because they are clearly speaking about wanting which is a strong emotion in every living being. Right now, look at your wants. They are strong. They pull you.
Now imagine wanting nothing.
Wanting nothing is knowing that the Sheparard will lead to all we need.
If a sheep wants something really badly it will walk away from the Shepherd to get what it wants.
When we receive Christ as a savior, we shall not be driven by our wants anymore and our wants shall not control us and our mood anymore. We have a shepherd now, He knows where He is leading us, what pasture he is taking us to. In winter times there is more patience needed. With our Shepherd.
When shephard brings his flock to a place where they can be fed abundantly, of course each sheep goes and gathers and eats. Shepard will not pick up grass for the sheep and feed it. This is a time for the sheep to act and to do.
We shall not have wants when we walk with Christ in close fellowship and love.
If you have strong wants then you are not trusting in the Shephard.
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (KJV)
The meaning of the word “wanting” found in the book of Psalms (Strong’s concordance number #2637 Hebrew plus included word references).
Want:
To lack, to have nothing, to go down, fail, have need, poverty, scarcity.
James 1:4 Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (KJV)
The meaning of the word “wanting” found in the book of James (Strong’s concordance number #3007 Greek plus included word references).
Wanting:
to lack, fall short, destitute.
To worry, have anxiety, be concerned, take thought, care for.
To not have (time), to fail to have.
To fail, end, stop
Conclusion:
Our wants lead us to many troubles. Wanting caused the fall of humanity. One of the descriptions of the word “wanting” is to fail. Do you see the connection between failure and want?
Also, wanting means to have anxiety!
How do we forsake our wants that cause us to fail in many ways and cause us anxiety?
The answer is found in learning to want what Shephard wants for us and trust Him. It is telling Him “I forsake all my wants and trust that you will lead me to what I really need.” Also, it is learning to want to only please the Shepherd with faithfulness to Him and looking to Him and following Him. Showing respect to him as a leader. It takes dying to own wants and knowing that the One who leads knows the best.
The truth is that many wants that we have are not good. We must learn to direct our wants (through thinking and prayer) to Christ first and to what He wants us to do.
I shall not want.
cfl.