As the Deer pants for streams of water....

[Shulamite]

Yeshua's Spirit has caused such a deep yearning cry in my heart for Him that it cannot be expressed. It's a longing melancholy that is painful. Groanings that have no human language.

I yearn for Him so INTENSELY that nothing consoles me except Him.
Down below is a devotional I found online recently. I pray it blesses those who have not yet felt this yearning.
Prophets fained with longing for the Lord. David penned that he panted for the living God! Have YOU felt this with the Lord? I'm not asking if you've read about or even listened to others share about it. Have YOU tasted this with the Lord?

Yearning For Christ


"You can yearn after Jesus so much that you sit in His presence and nothing comes out but a deep groaning--something that cannot be uttered. It says, 'Jesus, you're the only happiness there is in this world. I've tasted and seen that You're good--and I want all of You.'
"This is the deep, inner cry of someone who hungers for holiness and is anguished over his iniquities. Yet he admits, 'I don't know how to pray, I don't know what to pray for, or as I should.' His heart's cry is: 'Holy Spirit, come! You know the mind of God. You know how to pray according to the will of the Father. Walk with me--take control!'
"This is the mark of one who is walking in the Spirit: He has an insatiable appetite for Jesus. Yet it's not just because he's sick of all the garbage he sees in the world--all the filth, crime, drugs and unemployment. No, rather, it's something very positive. Like Paul, he's just anxious to depart and be with the Lord!
"This person is being moved upon by the Spirit to go after Christ with such passion and emotion that He is overwhelmed. His heart so longs for Christ, no words can express his hunger and love. It is a marvelous, powerful experience--yet it is also painful, because he cannot yet come into the fullness that awaits him!"
"Sadly, Few Today have this Passionate Groaning After Christ... Dear saint, what has happened in your life since you got saved? Are you just going through the motions? Are you lukewarm? Are you afraid to get 'on fire' for the Lord because you'll be considered a fanatic?
"Ask the Holy Ghost to so reveal Christ to your heart that you'll be totally weaned from this world. Can you say right now you're ready to go be with Him, that you want Him more than your very life? You may say that often--but do you mean it when you sing, 'He's more than life to me?' Are you more passionately in love with Jesus now than when you first met Him?
"Right now, the Holy Spirit is poking at the dying embers of your love. It is because He is desirous of setting your heart on fire. Are you allowing the Spirit of God to convict you of sin and unbelief? If so, rejoice! He wants you to be cleansed from every spot or wrinkle on that day when you meet your Bridegroom!
"So yield to His leading. Let Him do His work in you completely--and you truly will know what it means to walk in the Spirit!"

Acts 17:11 Home Page
http://www.acts17-11.com/bride.html

 

[Amylisa]

Yes yes yes!!!!!!! I have a paper copy of this teaching. It is the first thing I ever read which showed me, not only is is okay to feel this way, it is His own desire and work within us!!!!!!

And this part...."yet it is also painful, because we cannot yet come into the fulness that awaits us." This gave me understanding that really blessed my soul and taught me so much. I had thought there was something wrong with me. No there isn't!

I've been carrying this message in my Bible for over 10 years. It is a precious message indeed!

Thanks so much for sharing this here!!! Yaayyyy!!!! And Amen!!!!

 

[kisstheson]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Great post Shulamite! Spot on!

 

[MoNiCa4316]

That is awesome!!! AMEN.

 

[alatir]

And this part...."yet it is also painful, because we cannot yet come into the fulness that awaits us." This gave me understanding that really blessed my soul and taught me so much. I had thought there was something wrong with me. No there isn't!

Heh, I've also been wondering if this yearning for Living God is normal but I guess it is. (See my signature)

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Yea some people have told me I'm a little "obsessed" with all this "religion stuff" haha. But I think we're doing just fine By the way, I haven't seen you around Alatir, hope you're doing well!

God bless

 

[Shulamite]

Yes yes yes!!!!!!! I have a paper copy of this teaching. It is the first thing I ever read which showed me, not only is is okay to feel this way, it is His own desire and work within us!!!!!!

And this part...."yet it is also painful, because we cannot yet come into the fulness that awaits us." This gave me understanding that really blessed my soul and taught me so much. I had thought there was something wrong with me. No there isn't!

I've been carrying this message in my Bible for over 10 years. It is a precious message indeed!

Thanks so much for sharing this here!!! Yaayyyy!!!! And Amen!!!!

Yeah, me too. When I first started falling in love with Yeshua, about 14 years ago, the yearning that took over me was painful, obssessive and overwhelming. I still walk around like this. Yeshua put things in my path, however, perfectly timed to show me that it was of Him. I never felt this way until He started this in me for Him.
I'm glad I was not the only one walking around wondering, "Huh? Is this normal?"
My problem is that in the beginning of my longings for Him, if I didn't see OTHERS who felt this way, then I used to question myself. Yeshua QUICKLY matured me out of that!
He and I live face to face now and I have no need of human confirmation of my love life with Him!

**********
Alatir, glad you shared! Yes, I love your sig and I have the same yearning!

 

[Shulamite]

My soul faints with longing for You, Yeshua.

 

[fatherEzekiel]

I fully agree with you , my sister brides! Again, just reading your posts renewed the same overwhelming aching in my own heart. And yet, until we can be fully united with Him, it is comforting, even exciting, that He is just a sigh away from our heart. Some nice music, a soft candle, maybe a little cheese and grapes and bread, yes, an intimate Love Feast with our Beloved. What a beautiful way to spend some time away, wrapt in each others gaze.

And for those who are married, it seems that He can be just as present in and through our earthly spouse, if we can take the time to be together and make it really special. Either way, He is just such a romantic, and I know that He loves to come and sweep His Bride away, at any appropriate time that she will make herself available. How He too longs and waits for us to draw away with Him, no phones, or any intrusions from the world; just the two together, in your nuptial garden of delights. If maybe we have a bit of an active imagination, well,
He does too, and He particularly uses our desires and longings to bring us into that very special place.

I think that it is very healthy and proper, to have a close active relationship with Him, probalbly on a daily basis if possible. He certaily doesn't seem to tire of our affections, rather He loves to be loved, and He wants our affection as much as we want His.

 

[Amylisa]

The Lord said that to me once....
"I never tire of you."
Indeed, He never tires of us!!! Alleluia!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kisstheson]

My soul faints with longing for You, Yeshua.

Simply LOVELY picture!

 

[MoNiCa4316]

That IS a lovely picture!

I really long for Jesus...I want to know Him deeper, to be closer to Him...there have been times when I've been overwhelmed with this feeling, and it is so true what the OP says that you can't even express it in words. It is painful but I don't want it to stop.

Someone has told me that I "don't know love" because I'm single. But...no THIS is real love. Sure, human love can be wonderful and it's a blessing! But with Jesus, it is so incredible; nothing else compares.

 

[Daniels]

I Pledge that...

NEVER AGAIN will I confess "I can't" for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess lack, for "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:19)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess fear, for "God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:7)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess doubt and lack of faith for "God has given to every man the measure of faith." (Rom 12:3)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess weakness, for "The Lord is the strength of my life." (Psa 27:1)
"The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits." (Dan 11:32)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess supremacy of satan over my life for "Greater is He that is in me that he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess defeat, for "God always causes me to triumph in Christ Jesus." (2 Cor 2:14)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess lack of wisdom for "Christ Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God." (1 Cor 1:30)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess sickness for "By His stripes I am healed." (Isa 53:5)
Jesus "Himself took my infirmities and bore my sickness." (Mat 8:17)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess for "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty." (2 Cor 2:17)My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor 6:16)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess condemnation for "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1)

NEVER AGAIN will I confess worry or frustration for I "Cast all my cares upon Him who cares for me." (1 Pet 5:7)
In Christ I am care-free!

 

[Shulamite]

That IS a lovely picture!

I really long for Jesus...I want to know Him deeper, to be closer to Him...there have been times when I've been overwhelmed with this feeling, and it is so true what the OP says that you can't even express it in words. It is painful but I don't want it to stop.

Someone has told me that I "don't know love" because I'm single. But...no THIS is real love. Sure, human love can be wonderful and it's a blessing! But with Jesus, it is so incredible; nothing else compares.

You have that right. I am in an earthly marriage, but Yeshua stole my heart away and there is no love that can compare to His. I am glad that you see this. It's an erroneous idea that some tell others that if they are single they cannot know love. How foolish. The Lord IS our Love, IS our Husband and His love is the only love.
We were not meant for temporary, earthly things, and even the Apostle Paul admonishes us that "he who marries has his mind on earthly things, how to please his/her spouse".
Many persue marriage on this earth, though not sin, and feel that will satsify them. Mistake! Yeshua said, "I CAME that you may have life and have it to the full" He never told us that He gave us everyone and everything else that we may life to the full... It is a calling of some and a blessing to some. I feel as Paul said, "I wish all men were like me, but one has this gift and another that gift"
I feel that even though I am in an earthly marriage, He has stolen me away with Him and now I have ONE marriage (only with Him)
Earthly marriage is a PARABLE of the REAL thing. Many substitute the earthly/temporary as the real thing.

 

[JPPT1974]

Believers are meant for eternal and
Heavenly things as we aren't of this world
Because God wasn't of this world.

 

[Shulamite]

Amen!

I feel that most married couples, though a gift and calling of the Lord for some, place so much time, effort and attention on earthly marriage that their marriage to Yeshua suffers neglect or a divided heart's affection. I used to live that way years ago, before He revealed to me that He and I are Husband and Wife and I am to live as though I had no earthly marriage (in my heart) and give all of that to Him alone! (1 Corinthians 7)
28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; 33 but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. So that he who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. 39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God. )


Yet if more teachers and pastors preached putting Yeshua FIRST, rather than putting all their heart, soul and mind into an earthly marriage, how loved would Yeshua be? This is a stern message for the mature and those who have had Yeshua reveal Himself to them as their Lover----whether married or single.

Okay, just my 2cents! (and Paul's!)

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I keep on coming back here to read this devotional it's soo good!

 

[Shulamite]

Bump

 

[Amylisa]

On the subject of earthly marriage...I've had some thoughts going around inside for a while about all of this.

I've been married for 23 years. For much of that time, I was in a Lot of emotional pain. Some of it was from my past, some of it was from un met expectations, some of it was from un met, honest needs. Some of it was deep grief over being hurt.

I fought and kicked and screamed and cried for such a long time! Thought about divorce I don't know how many times. I thought of divorcing and going off with another person not once, but twice. All this time I was a Christian! I thank God that Jesus didn't come back during those times!

One time He absolutely amazed me with His mercy. The first time I seriously was wishing I could be with this other person, one night I was absolutely devastated as I realized the fact that I just could not do it. And this really broke me, because I was convinced this person was 'the answer' to all I'd been living without. I just felt in so much need of love and tenderness, I felt honestly desperate.

Well as I sat in my living room alone that night, crying from the depths of me as I accepted this, suddenly I felt an angel there with me. I was bent over sobbing, and the angel put a hand on my shoulder. Leaning over me, he was looking into my face and comforting me.

This absolutely...amazed me. Here I was, grieving because of my own sin, and God sent an Angel to comfort me?! I am so moved by this even to this day when I think about it.

Another time when I was in similar grief, as I cried to God my legs literally gave out. It was a death, in a way. But so very necessary.

Now, years later, I am at peace about my marriage here on earth. I don't know how it happened. My husband and I get along pretty well now. I dont' get so upset if we have a disagreement. I can deal with unmet needs. And my deepest Need for Love IS MET now, and forever, in Yeshua. Alleluia.

I long SO much for my beloved Bridegroom to come for me. And it isn't becasue I want to escape. Like that song says, "Not running from....no I think they got me all wrong...I don't regret this life you chose for me....but I'm going home." I don't know HOW He could have chosen me. I have been SO unfaithful in the past. He has blessed me more than I ever dreamed. I love my children so much. But I do LONG for the fulness of His Presence. Being with Him....there is nothing else!

He allowed those painful events to root out of me an unfaithful heart. Something I didn't even know I had! I was so ashamed of this. I identify greatly with the woman caught in adultery. Even though I never did anything in the flesh, Jesus knew my heart. Of course.


All of this to say....maybe my earthly marriage was an idol to me. I know Jesus showed me back then, I was faced with the truth that my own happiness was more important to me than He was. It took Him to show me that. It took me going through the fruit of my heart's rebellion to see the truth of what I really was.


I am forever AMAZED that He took me! I am happy for people who have a wonderful marriage on this earth. But NOTHING can compare with being in love with HIM, truly being HIS Bride. And I don't think I would have sought or wanted Yeshua if I had been happy here. I am thankful He allowed me to go through what I did.

Thanks for letting me share!

 

[Servant4Yeshuah]

I felt it was odd that I stumbled upon this thread.
I have had so much pain in my marriage of more than 30 years. One reason I was off line for so long was because of the devastion going on, and then I got very sick because my body couldn't take all the stress. Yeshuah was with me thru it all. He has shown me that He is my Husband and the one who will forever care for me.

I am still living with my husband because Yeshuah has asked me to do so for his salvation. I find it very difficult at times and I don't know what to make of it, but I am trying to obey Yeshuah. Because of the deep and awful betrayals that went on much healing needs to be done. For me Yeshuah has been my healing alone and the other party has corrected his activities, at least he says so, but he has not come to repentence yet. Recently someone prophesied over me, who didn't know all what was going on, and told me that the Lord said that He will contend with those who contend with me. I understand that the Lord is very longsuffering towards us, even those that love Him would be lost without His mercy, which is why I have tried to be faithful to Him in not divorcing my husband. But this prophet said that the ones (interesting that he said "ones" because there are more than the one still contending against me) have nearly come to the end of Yeshuah's allotted time for them to repent. He told me to pray mightily for them, for they do not want to fall into the hands of an angry God. He also told me that God is my vindication.
For so long it has been hard not to retaliate and bear a grudge, but I begged Yeshuah for His heart, that He would let me love them as He does. This did not mean to let my husband continue to abuse me by his deeds, but it did mean to pray sincerely for his mercy even in the midst of this suffering. I reflected on Yeshuah's passion greatly, and in time was able to come to a place of forgiveness and then I began to truly feel sadness and pity for them, because the whole thing was something that was some sand, for Yeshuah would not let my inner heart be hurt, He would come to my rescue, He would uphold my worth, He would expose the truth and all this striving against me was for nothing...and they were losing the most beautiful treasure of all. One day I was laying on the floor just praying about this and I felt great sorrow for those that had hurt me. Yeshuah in His tenderness, cradled my heart to His and I knew His love and compassion greatly.

Yeshuah is my Husband and I am more content with that. I find I don't desire things I once desired and in a way it is freeing. He has revealed to me why I was to marry and more...Maybe I can share that some time.

Thank you for letting me go on. Perhaps it sounds very crazy. Trust me, it has sounded and been crazy for me too. I just cling to Yeshuah and try with all my might to follow Him. I long for the day when I can finally be free of this life and be with Him. I think it will be then that I will finally be truly content.