"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"
(Matthew 5:6)
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them"
(Mark 11:24)
Introduction
The Christian who is putting God first in his life has a great desire for an uttermost and complete salvation. He seeks with all of his heart the liberty and joy of Christ found only in those who aim to live the sanctified life.
Desire and ask
In Luke 11 the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of the blessed gift of the Holy Spirit, but preludes the promise with a parable about a hungry boy. "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" (Luke 11:11-12.)
The asking was not for costly things, but simply for bread and butter, the very necessities of life. Too many concern themselves with the least important things of this world; luxury, pleasure, and riches. As believers we desire the most important thing of all, that is, to walk as Christ walked in this world ... "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21) ... "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6.)
Are we hungry enough?
The most fundamental desire of all living creatures is sustenance. Do we hunger and thirst after God's righteousness? (Matthew 5:6.) If we do, then surely we will be filled.
Is our soul fainting within us for a life filled with the presence of God, life, joy and peace? Can we cry along with David, "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God" (Psalm 84:2)?
Do we ask, seek and desire for full and joyous salvation in Christ? We ought to!
Conclusion
Our churches are full of critical, hard-hearted, unforgiving and bitter members. Everywhere we look we see sin, ungodliness and worldliness abounding, and no one seems to give a care. Without a doubt we need to return to our "first love" and "do the first works" (Revelation 2:4-5.) Instead of self-pleasing and waywardness there must be the desire to be holy.
It all depends on how deep our desire for the Lord is.