“The one thing I ask of the LORD—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
delighting in the LORD’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there…”
~Psalm 27:4-5
This Christian walk, I have found,
is a unique and precise tension
between having eyes to behold the wisdom and glory of God
and a heart that hungers for yet more.
If we could easily see and understand all of who our God is, we would just as easily dismiss Him. If His vast mountain of wisdom, love, and power could be scaled in a single day with the ease of a Sunday stroll, we would never comprehend the depths of His endless riches.
In the tedious, in the gut-wrenching, in the struggle to continue we learn the value of hunger. To the comfortable and satisfied, even the slightest discomfort is anguish.
But to the hungry, a trek through the wilderness is forever worth the table set on the other side.
Spiritual hunger is a precious gift from a Creator who knows our weaknesses.
- To be hungry is to be motivated.
- To be hungry is to need something outside of ourselves.
Hunger drives us beyond the empty pleasures and pain of earth into knowing the eternal realms of heaven – and that while still on earth.
With profound understanding Jesus spoke to the crowds: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...” (Matthew 5:6) He knew the pull of complacency and the value of desire. He knew that without hunger we would just as soon sit in our mess.
But Jesus also knew the importance of desires being fulfilled: “…for they shall be satisfied.”
In all of our longing, we must be able to recognize God to be satisfied.
If the Holy Spirit were to only tempt you on without profound moments of rest and dining with Him, if you never experienced the unspeakable joy of seeing His personal involvement in your journey, if the truths of the Bible didn’t come alive and active in your own life, you would certainly become heartsick. Without His power strengthening you – body, soul, and spirit – you could soon lose faith and fall deeper into despair than at the first.
Yes, this road is narrow and difficult that leads to Life, but it is abundant with the things of heaven. There is satisfaction with each step when our eyes are fixed on the Perfect One.
With one glimpse of His smile, one word from His lips, one touch of His hand, your heart is refreshed and your desire to continue to the end deepens. What an amazing revelation:
Jehovah God is both the longing and the reward.
In gazing upon His beauty you will find both hunger and satisfaction.
So where does today find you?
Are you weary or overwhelmed?
Have you settled into a deep, dry rut?
Are you still believing, but need a fresh word?
As Paul prayed from a prison cell nearly 2000 years ago, I pray for you now:
- May Light from heaven shine on your heart even this moment and give you fresh wisdom and revelation of your Father.
- May hope rise up within – hope in the perfect union between you and your God.
- May the rich inheritance of His presence and power overwhelm you – exciting and enabling you to be and do more than you have ever considered before.
- May the same faith that filled and motivated Jesus to follow each and every word of His Father also fill you, bringing the Kingdom of God into your circumstance.
The One who has called you is faithful and He longs to reveal Himself to you and through you.
Find more of Amy’s encouragement in Will to Be Filled
Amy Layne Litzelman is passionate about knowing God more intimately in each moment and helping others do the same. Amy released her first book, This Beloved Road: A Journey of Revelation and Worship, in 2011. She has also composed over seventy songs, recorded four CDs, and traveled to teach and lead worship across the United States and in the Philippines and China. She and her husband, Matt, live in Jackson Hole, WY and have two adult sons.
Click here to learn more about gifted faith writer Amy Layne Litzelman
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