After Renewed Desires

When God works in his children, his purpose is to give to us renewed desires. That is, what we were is now becoming who the Father intended us to be.
Like the “potential” of life contained within a seed, God brings forth in us and through our lives the fruitfulness for which we were created.
This is the work of renewal!

We develop renewed desires by putting things on. “... since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” (Colossians 3:9-10). But that can only happen as we put to death what is earthly in us when the Spirit of God is invited to do His work within us.

In The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee observed: "Not until the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a settled thing in our hearts can the Spirit really operate effectively in us. He cannot direct our lives effectually until all control of them is committed to him. If we do not give him absolute authority in our lives, he can be present, but he cannot be powerful. The power of the Spirit is stayed."
To combat the old nature’s inclinations to sin requires intentionality. Certain mindsets and their resultant actions - things of the earthly nature - must be put to death (3:5). The only way to renewed desires is through an increased recognition of the image of our Creator through Christ Jesus (3:10). This is what takes the work of renewal to a deeper level in us.

God wants his children to have renewed desires. He wants to renew you in the depth of your innermost being, to take you from what you were to who you are in Christ. Put to death what belongs to your earthly nature and put on
the new self!