Achieve What You Really Want
“To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to, achieve. Shall man’s basest desires receive the fullest measure of gratification, and his purest aspirations starve for lack of sustenance? Such is not the Law: such a condition of things can never obtain: ask and receive.”
— James Allen
Reflection
Desire is common; aspiration is rare. Almost everyone wants something to change — more health, more impact, more closeness with God — but wanting alone does not re‑shape a life. James Allen draws a sharp line: “To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve.” He is not saying you get whatever you casually wish for. He is saying that when desire matures into steady, disciplined aspiration, it begins to pull the right thoughts, habits, and opportunities toward it.
Aspiration accepts responsibility. Instead of blaming your age, your past, or your circumstances, you begin asking, “Who do I need to become to faithfully carry what I’m asking for?” That one question moves you out of fantasy and into formation. Your calendar, your conversations, your prayers, and even your spending begin to line up with the future you say you want.
Many people never achieve what they really want because they never stay with a worthy aim long enough to be changed by it. They jump from project to project, chasing the next shortcut. Allen invites you to choose a higher, holier target — something good and God‑honoring — and then keep your inner gaze fixed there. As your character is refined, achievement stops looking like luck and starts looking like harvest.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Write down one thing you say you really want in this season. Underneath it, list three ways your current habits disagree with that desire.
- Decide on one small, repeatable action that aligns with your aspiration (a daily walk, a set prayer time, a writing block) and schedule it for the next seven days.
- Ask God, in simple words, to show you how He wants to shape your character to match what you are asking Him to do through your life.
One Question To Ponder
Where does your current daily routine reveal simple desire, and where does it reveal true aspiration toward a God‑honoring goal?
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