The Psalmist, turning his thought to God, declared (51:6), "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Mary Baker Eddy makes a statement that might be considered correlative when she writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 2): "Are we benefited by praying? Yes, the desire which goes forth hungering after righteousness is blessed of our Father, and it does not return unto us void."
Desire expresses ardor of feeling, longing, and earnest wishing. Travelers in the desert, parched with thirst and famished with hunger, long for water and bread. "Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses" (Ps. 107:5,6).
Christ Jesus drew attention to the value of spiritual desires when he said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." In this beatitude he made it clear that righteous desire carries its own reward.
