CONTROLING YOUR DESIRES

CONTROLING YOUR DESIRES

By Durrell Dixon | Faith-Based Personal Development Coach & Christian Psychology Advocate


The Hidden Power Beneath the Surface

Most psychologists agree that subconscious desires dominate human behavior more than conscious desires. While the conscious mind can set goals, the subconscious often holds the powerful, underlying motivations, emotions, and memories that truly drive one's actions and choices.

When I reflect on this truth, I see the parallels in Scripture. The Bible repeatedly points out that what is hidden in the heart eventually shows up in a person’s life:

Proverbs 23:7.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” 

The subconscious is, in many ways, the heart that Scripture speaks of—the deep place where beliefs, emotions, and memories reside. And if that’s where our real power is, then it makes sense why transformation must begin there.

Why the Subconscious Prevails

The Conscious Mind is Slow and Limited

The conscious mind is analytical and logical, but it can only process a small amount of information at a time. Psychologists have found that the conscious brain processes around 40 bits of information per second, while the subconscious can process nearly 11 million bits per second (Kihlstrom, 2021).

This means when a subconscious and conscious desire are in conflict, the slower conscious will often lose out to the more powerful, automatic impulse of the subconscious.

Even neuroscience shows us that the brain often makes a decision milliseconds before we are consciously aware of it (Klein, 2022). That means the subconscious is already setting the direction, and the conscious mind is catching up.

  Paul had an understanding of this truth:

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19, ESV).

The subconscious was pulling him in one direction even though his conscious mind longed to obey God.

The Subconscious Mind is Fast and Powerful

  • Automatic behavior: Once something becomes familiar, like driving a car or tying your shoes, the subconscious takes over. The same is true for habits—good or bad.

  • Deep-seated roots: Your subconscious stores your past experiences, beliefs, and emotions. That’s why old wounds or childhood beliefs can influence your adult reactions without you even realizing it.

  • Emotional drivers: Strong emotions like fear, love, or shame are rooted in the subconscious. Research shows emotions stored in the subconscious often drive decisions before the logical brain can step in (Smith & Lane, 2023).

This explains why you can “know better” in your head but still feel pulled to do the opposite. The subconscious often shouts louder than logic.

 Conflicting Desires

Take this example: you might have a conscious desire to exercise regularly, but your subconscious is wired to crave comfort after work. In that conflict, the subconscious often wins.

But here’s the hope: Scripture tells us we are not slaves to the subconscious. Through renewing the mind (Romans 12:2), we can rewire what drives us. Psychology agrees—research shows consistent mental rehearsal and belief restructuring can reshape subconscious motivations over time (Hölzel et al., 2022).

Working With Your Subconscious—God’s Way

Feed Your Subconscious with God’s Word

Just as psychologists talk about affirmations and visualization, Scripture reminds us to meditate on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8). The more you repeat and reflect on His promises, the deeper they sink into your subconscious, forming new automatic responses rooted in faith.

Align Emotions with Godly Truth

Your subconscious runs on emotion. That means the best way to rewire it is by tying strong emotions to God’s promises. Worship is one way to do this—it stirs your emotions while planting truth into the deepest part of your being.

Think About or Visualize Victory Through Faith

Psychological research shows that visualization enhances performance and habit change (Simonsmeier et al., 2021). Strong evidence also confirms that how we think—through strategies like mental contrasting with if-then planning (Oettingen & Gollwitzer, 2021), task-focused self-talk (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2011), and reinterpreting stress as helpful (Jamieson et al., 2017)—directly improves goal attainment and resilience. Scripture affirms this, reminding us to “set your minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2).

The Transformation Pathway

Here’s the beautiful truth: when your subconscious is renewed by God’s Word, it no longer fights your conscious goals. Instead, it fuels them. That’s when peace, joy, and obedience flow naturally.

You don’t have to keep losing battles against your subconscious. With God’s help, you can rewire it—turning old triggers into new triumphs.

 Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”

Transformation is possible because God designed your subconscious to be shaped, renewed, and retrained. Psychology confirms it, and Scripture guarantees it.

The subconscious may be powerful, but it’s not immovable. With intentional practice, Spirit-led renewal, and faith-driven action, you can align your deeper desires with God’s will. And when that happens, your conscious and subconscious no longer fight each other—they work together to help you walk in freedom.

Take charge of what you feed your heart. Because ultimately, your subconscious is either holding you back in old patterns—or propelling you forward in Christ-like transformation.


References

  • Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2022). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 322, 111-119.

  • Kihlstrom, J. F. (2021). The cognitive unconscious. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 1-24.

  • Klein, C. (2022). The timing of unconscious decision making: Implications for free will. Consciousness and Cognition, 103, 103358.

  • Simonsmeier, B. A., Flaig, M., Deiglmayr, A., Schalk, L., & Schneider, M. (2021). The effects of imagery interventions in sports: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 52, 101804.

  • Smith, R., & Lane, R. D. (2023). The neural basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 144, 104928.

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