A Biblical Perspective on Desire, Identity, and Discipline
Most people think awareness is always a good thing. After all, how can you grow if you’re not aware of what needs changing? But in the Kingdom of God, awareness without the right framework can become a trap. It was true for Adam and Eve, and it’s still true for us today.
Let’s go back to the beginning.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it…” —Genesis 2:16–17
God’s original command was abundant. It was generous. Eat freely, He said. Everything is yours—except for this one tree. That one caveat wasn’t about control; it was about protection.
But look how the serpent twisted it.
“Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” —Genesis 3:1
See the shift? The enemy reframed God’s abundant provision as restrictive. That’s how awareness gets weaponized.
Adam and Eve didn’t become aware of evil until they disobeyed. That act of reaching for forbidden knowledge shattered innocence and birthed self-consciousness. They became aware of their nakedness and covered themselves—thus began the human pattern of shame, fear, and hiding.
Here’s the principle: Desire is always born out of awareness. You can’t desire what you’re unaware of. But if your awareness isn’t filtered through truth, it becomes a breeding ground for comparison, covetousness, and compromise.
This is the same mechanism in our businesses, our careers, and our habits. Once you become aware of what someone else has—a level of success, influence, or wealth—you suddenly desire it. But without the right spiritual foundation, that desire drives you to grind in your own strength, often stepping into behaviors that develop into destructive habits.
Awareness births desire. Discipline shapes direction. But only truth sets you free.
This is why we need a spiritual framework—because not every awareness should be acted on. Just because you see something doesn’t mean you’re called to pursue it.
What’s the solution?
Return to God’s original design. His first command wasn’t “don’t.” It was “freely eat.” He starts with abundance. He is not holding out on us. Every boundary God gives is to protect our identity, not suppress our destiny.
Let me say it plainly: When your awareness isn’t tethered to God’s truth, it will tilt you. You’ll lean toward shortcuts, addictions, and performances that look like progress—but slowly pull you away from purpose.
So next time awareness strikes—of someone else’s success, of your own limitations, or of new possibilities—ask yourself:
Is this awareness from God, or is it the serpent’s whisper?
Because one leads to freedom, the other to fig leaves.