(And What Do They Reveal About Who You Really Are?)

Tuesday was my birthday, and my wife Marilyn gave me one of those cards that stops you in your tracks. It was beautiful—simple yet elegant—with a single verse printed inside that hit me like a quiet thunderclap:

Psalm 20:4 — “May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.” (ESV)

I’ve read that verse before, but this time it felt personal. As I sat there with the card in my hand, a surprising question bubbled up: What even are the desires of my heart right now? Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could name them anymore. Life’s noise—deadlines, distractions, daily routines—had quietly muffled them.

So I grabbed my journal and started writing. No editing, no judging—just a free-flowing stream of whatever came to mind. Before I knew it, I had 65 desires on the page. Sixty-five! And I could have kept going. The act itself was electric. Things I hadn’t thought about in years surfaced: deep longings for meaningful connection, creative pursuits I’d sidelined, hopes for my family, quiet yearnings to grow closer to God. It was like rediscovering parts of myself I’d forgotten were there.

Later, I fed the raw list into an AI tool and asked it to organize and refine everything. It grouped them into clear categories and smoothed out my messy handwriting-turned-text. Reading the polished version out loud each morning has become one of the most grounding practices I’ve ever adopted. It’s not magic—it’s clarity. It’s a daily reminder of what truly matters to me.

In a world that bombards us with negativity, comparison, and endless noise, naming the desires of your heart is a powerful act of resistance. That list becomes a mirror: it reveals your true identity, your deepest ambitions, your hopes, your dreams—and sometimes the quiet fears or wounds hiding behind them. More importantly, it shows you where your heart is aligned with God’s purposes… and where it might need realignment.

When you know what stirs your soul, you stop wasting time on things that don’t. You can say no to distractions that drain you and yes to pursuits that bring genuine joy, purpose, and fulfillment. You begin walking more fully in the person God created you to be.

Here’s my invitation to you: Try it. Right now, or tonight, or this weekend—grab a notebook (or your phone’s notes app) and write without stopping. Stream-of-consciousness style. No need to make it pretty. Just let the desires pour out.

Then do this:

• Revisit the list daily for a week or two. Read it aloud if you can. Watch how it shifts your perspective.
• Bring it before God in prayer. Ask Him to search your heart (Psalm 139:23–24), refine what needs refining, and grant what aligns with His will. Surrender the list to Him and see what He does with it.

You might uncover dreams you buried long ago. You might remember passions that once lit you up. You might even discover new desires God is planting in this season. Either way, you’ll gain something priceless: a clearer sense of who you are—and whose you are.

What’s one desire that comes to mind right now? I’d love to hear it in the comments. Let’s encourage each other to live from the heart God gave us.

Here’s to rediscovering—and pursuing—the desires that make us truly alive.