Discerning Desires

How do you discern whether your desires are motivated by the sinful nature or by the Spirit-filled nature? Obviously, if your desire is sinful, then the former is obvious; if your desire is holy, then the latter is clear. For example, if you desire to steal some jewelry, then you can pretty reasonably conclude that the sin nature motivates that sinful desire. On the other hand, if you desire to generously give some money or donate your time to a "worthy" cause (such as serving at a soup kitchen or supporting adoption), then you can reasonably conclude (at least for yourself as a Christian) that the desire to do such noble and virtuous deeds stems from the Spirit-filled nature.

But the clarity disintegrates when your desire is for something like sex. Sex is good; God made it for a husband and wife to enjoy within the bounds of marriage. And God created humans (especially men) to want sex. But how has the sin nature perverted that desire? And how has our over-sexed culture shaped your desire for sex? In Titus 1:15-16, Paul says, "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

My wife says - in regards to this topic anyway - that I think too much. I ought to just glorify God and enjoy Him (and the blessings He provides, especially in the marriage covenant relationship) forever.