A DESIRE IS AN INCLINATION towards some object (or person) accompanied by a positive affect (or feeling). The quality of a desire comes from the object whereas the intensity comes from the affect.

Some points about desires

All desires are real experiences but not all desires are equally authentic. For example, if a person has been hurt he or she might have the desire for revenge and the desire to forgive.
The desire to forgive is from a more profound level of the self — the true self, whereas the desire for revenge is from the false self.
Desires need to be ordered: “Seek first the Kingdom of God…”
The question of identity —“Who am I?” can never be answered directly. Only by answering the further question, “What do I want?” — our authentic desires — do I reveal who I am.
Authentic desires lead to a love of God and a love of neighbour.
Healthy people have a desire to submit to something greater than themselves — God.

The role of desire in prayer

Knowing what we desire in prayer, and begging God for it is crucial.
Every intended encounter with another person is accompanied by a desire or desires. We are not always aware of our desires, but they are present, and they condition our behaviour in the encounter. So it is in our encounters with God. What do we desire in our prayer?
Unless we have some attraction towards God, some curiosity or hope or desire, we will not take the time to begin our side of the relationship. If I believe in my heart that God is vindictive and punishing, ready to pounce on any infraction, then I may try to placate him, but I will never want to get to know him.
Many people need help to recognise their desire for God. Because of life’s hurts they may not recognise any other desire than to be left alone or not be hurt any more. Telling such people that “God is love” has little effect. They may need help to admit to God that they are afraid of him and desire to be less afraid.
The kind of relationship Jesus desires with us is a mutual one, where desire meets desire. When I fall in love, I desire to be desired by the one I desire. If we experience how much God loves and desires us (which is spiritual consolation) we want to love him in return. Pray to know how much God loves you.
What do we know about Jesus’ desires? “Not my will but thine be done.” He wanted to do the Father’s will.

What do I want?

Scripture (John 1:35-39)

On the following day, as John stood there again with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, “Look, there is the Lamb of God”. Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned around, saw them and said: “What do you want?” They answered, “Rabbi,”— which means teacher — “where do you live?” “Come and see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day.

After reading the text, please spend an hour in prayerful silence reflecting on Jesus’ question, “What do you want?” Hear him ask you this question. Listen to his question resounding in your heart. When you are ready, you can respond to Jesus from your heart.

At the conclusion of the prayer you might write brief responses to the following questions:

What am I searching for on this Camino?
What did I ask Jesus for in my prayer?
What was my petition?

[1] These notes are taken from an article by Edward Kinerk SJ, “Eliciting Great Desires: Their Place in the Spirituality of the Society of Jesus,” Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits 16, No. 5 (1984).