Welcome everyone to the 48th episode of Professor P's Podcast. I am so excited to bring you another dose of Elixir, that energetic power. Today’s topic is DESIRE but do not THIRST! #truthbetold
Desire is like a flame that warms the heart; thirst is like a wildfire that consumes the soul.
What are you desiring... and what are you thirsting for? Which one is leading you?
Desire is one of the highest powers of the soul, as without desire, nothing would ever be achieved. No person who attains the state of a happy marriage, financial security, or spiritual fulfillment does so by accident. Desire is an integral part of life and is essential to our biological survival.
What we have to do is be very careful not to become thirsty. The state of thirsting – or craving and compulsively grasping for one’s desires – causes unhappiness. Do not let your desires get to a point that they make you thirsty. This happens far too often in our world. Thirst is uncomfortable, so we look to quench that thirst. We set goals, and we believe we are incomplete if we don’t achieve them. This results in a steady state of low-level fear. You see, the emotional feeling of “I won’t be happy unless I get this, or have that, or be with this person, or go to this place, and so on” also contains the sense of “I am not happy”
In the Bible, desire can be something godly and positive when it aligns with God's will. It's often portrayed as a natural yearning for righteousness, wisdom, or God's presence. On the other hand, thirst, especially when uncontrolled or misplaced, can represent a deep, restless craving that leaves the soul unsatisfied, symbolizing spiritual emptiness.
Psalm 37:4 (Desire Properly Directed) "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Here, desire is healthy because it's rooted in delighting in God. It's not a desperate thirst for worldly things but a peaceful yearning aligned with divine purpose.
John 4:13-14 (Thirst for Temporary Things vs. Eternal Satisfaction): "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst." Jesus contrasts earthly thirst (temporary satisfaction) with the living water He provides. This is a powerful metaphor: chasing after worldly things leaves us perpetually thirsty, but His presence quenches in a way nothing else can.
Holy Desire: Aligned, Anchored, Abundant
Desire, in its purest form, draws you closer to purpose. It’s that spark God places in your heart—a calling, a vision, a yearning to become more, give more and love deeper.
Psalm 37:4 teaches us that when our desires align with God (delighting in Him), they’re not frantic but fulfilled.
Desire becomes powerful when it’s not rooted in lack but in alignment.
Dangerous Thirst: Restless, Relentless, Empty
Thirst is what the world often feeds us—a hunger that’s never satisfied. It’s the endless scroll, the constant comparison, the "just a little more and I’ll be happy" mentality.
Jesus addressed this in John 4, speaking to the Samaritan woman. She had been thirsting for validation, relationships, fulfillment—but none quenched her soul. He offers living water, satisfaction that ends the cycle.
Thirst leaves you chasing. Desire, properly placed, leads you to rest.
Contentment in the Middle (Philippians 4)
Paul wasn’t anti-desire. He had ambitions and goals! But he had learned the “secret”: contentment isn’t the absence of desire—it’s the absence of desperation.
You can desire growth, success, healing, and relationships—but when those desires become obsessions, you’ve crossed into thirsting.
Let me ask you some questions:
What am I desiring right now? Is it aligned with God’s will or fueled by comparison/fear/lack?
Where in my life do I feel restless, like no matter what I achieve, it’s not enough?
Am I content even if my desires aren’t fulfilled yet?
Homework Assignment
"The Desire Inventory"
Make 3 Lists:
God-Given Desires – What dreams or callings stir you
Show more...