Examining the Heart of Desire
A Personal Bible Study through the Words of Jesus in Matthew
How to Approach This Study
This study is meant to help you answer:
What are you running after?
The tenth commandment deals with the posture of your heart, not just outward behavior.
Behavior modification does not equal heart change.
Move slowly. Be honest. Ask God:
What is the fruit of my life revealing about the tree?
1. Where Is Your Treasure?
Matthew 6:19–21
Insight
Every action moves toward what you believe is the ultimate good.
Your treasure reveals what you believe will satisfy you.
Examination
- Where does my mind go when I’m not distracted?
- What do I believe would make me feel complete or secure?
- What loss would most shake me?
Go deeper:
What disappointment has most shaped what I now pursue?
Reflection
Desire is not the problem—direction is.
- Am I seeking God—or something I want from Him?
- Am I trusting Him—or trying to secure life myself?
- 2. What Is Ruling You?Matthew 6:24InsightEvery desire is fulfilled by loving God or loving self.You are always serving something.
- Examination
- What drives my decisions—obedience or comfort?
- Where do I hesitate to obey God?
- What do I feel like I need to be okay?ReflectionTo live according to the love of self is to live a lie.
- If God withheld this, would I still trust Him?
- Is my obedience conditional?
3. What Is Your Anxiety Revealing?
Matthew 6:25–34
Insight
Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
Anxiety often reveals what you’re trying to control or secure.
Examination
- What am I anxious about right now?
- What do I fear not getting or losing?Go Beneath
- What desire is underneath this? (security, significance, etc.)
- What do I believe this will give me?Reflection
- Do I trust God’s character—or only outcomes I want?
- Am I seeking the Kingdom first—or trying to manage life myself?
- 4. What Is Choking Your Growth?Matthew 13:22InsightThe Word is not rejected—it is crowded out.
Examination
- What is consuming most of my attention?
- Where have I deprioritized time with God?Reflection
- Has something good become ultimate?
- Is my life structured in a way that chokes spiritual fruit?
- 5. What Are You Trading?Matthew 16:26InsightEvery pursuit is a trade.
- Examination
- What is getting the best of my time and energy?
- Where am I choosing comfort or success over faithfulness?Reflection
- If I continue like this, where will I end up spiritually?
- Do I believe God is better than what I’m pursuing?
- 6. What Is Your “One Thing”? Matthew 19:21–24
Insight
There is often one place where surrender feels most costly.
Examination
- What do I feel like I need to be okay?
- What would be hardest to surrender?Reflection
- If this is never fulfilled, would I still trust God?
- Am I following Jesus—or negotiating with Him?
- 7. What Is Hidden Beneath the Surface?Matthew 23:25InsightThe heart is deceitful above all else.
- Examination
- Where does my outer life not match my inner life?
- What do I hide or justify internally?Reflection
- Do I care more about appearance or transformation?
- Am I pursuing change—or managing perception?
Final Reflection: What Love Is Driving You?
There are only two loves: the love of self and the love of God.
Sit With This
- What am I running after right now?
- What is it promising me?
- What is it producing in me?
- Is my hope in God—or in this being fulfilled?
- Response Before God
What is the fruit revealing about the tree?
- Confess where love of self has been ruling
- Name the desires you’ve been chasing
- Surrender what you’ve been clinging to
- Ask God to reorder your desires
- Closing Prayer
- Father, You see my heart more clearly than I do. Reveal where I have been loving myself more than You. Show me what I am truly running after. Reorder my desires so that You are my ultimate good. Teach me to trust You with what I long for, and to find my satisfaction in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.