I was recently reading an article featuring an interview on Kim Kardashian and her $4 billion clothing brand, Skims. The article opens with Kim K’s words: “I know exactly what I want”. This statement was a poignant reminder that the success of the brand was not random and neither is our lives.
He does not need us to “um” and “ah” when it comes to asking for what we want. He’s a straightforward God with clear-cut promises.
I’m beginning to appreciate why someone knowing what they want is often said as a compliment. It seems so simple but not all of us do. It’s quite telling that Jesus asked a person who was clearly in need (he was blind), “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51-52). The blind man replied, “I want to see!” and that’s what he received. He knew exactly what he wanted. It’s so convicting when you realise this is the level of decisiveness God expects from us. Jesus never did a miracle for the drama – after all, this is real life. So, He also does not need us to “um” and “ah” when it comes to asking for what we want. He’s a straightforward God with clear-cut promises.
If we contrast this to the man who had been paralysed for 38 years, Jesus asked a similar question: ‘Do you want to be healed?’ (John 5:6). You would think that the man would reply with an instant “Yes!”, but instead he gave Jesus reasons why he could not be healed (John 5:7). What he needed was obvious but he did not ask because he lost sight of what he wanted.
This is a reminder to renew the vision. What do you want?
Sometimes the hardships of life can cause us to lose sight of what we once wanted or hoped for. But this is a reminder to renew the vision. What do you want? Ask God and He will give it to you. He does not need you to pray complicated prayers – be straightforward and remind Him of His promises in the Bible ‘for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12:32). But it starts with knowing what you want and believing that you can have it (Mark 11:24).
The success of our lives demands that we know what we want so that we can take intentional steps to achieve those things. It also makes for a more focused life – allowing us to eliminate or say no to those opportunities that are not in line with the vision. The clearer the vision, the greater the chance of success.
If you’re someone who struggles with knowing what you want, a good practical step would be to make a vision board. Think about what you want to achieve in relation to your career, relationships, health etc., and distil this into pictures. I remember the first time I made a vision board; the bulk of the work was thinking about what I wanted – after that, finding the pictures was easy.
If it doesn’t please God, I don’t want it. I know exactly what I want.
In all of this, I recognise that sometimes what we want may not be God’s best for us. Other times, we ask God for things but with the wrong motives and so we don’t receive it (James 4:2-3). So yes, I know exactly what I want but it stems from my delight, contentment, happiness in the Lord – it is from this place that He promises to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). If it doesn’t please God, I don’t want it. I know exactly what I want.
Only ask (emphasis added), and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.
Psalm 2:8
Further reading
Redefining Success 
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