amen to this!!!
Rediscover the Power
of God-ward Passion When you pray with persistence, worship with abandon, or fast in hunger and desperation, you create heavenly urgency and passion that is virtually irresistible to your Maker and heavenly Father ( The God Catchers , p. 40).
Many people in the church may be tempted to scoff at the idea of “creating heavenly urgency and passion” that is virtually irresistible to God. However, people who still feel the painful ecstasy of love for their spouse or fiancé understand what I'm talking about. In the middle of an average and otherwise forgettable day, a longing may seize them to see and hold their beloved. It makes no sense, but who said logic has nothing to do with it? This is the domain of love and passion. Those in the grip of love will go to incredible lengths of sacrifice and expense just to spend a few moments with one another.
Where God is concerned, are you in the grip of love or the bondage of boredom? To what length will you go for a few more moments in His presence?
On a higher level, you may find yourself going through the motions of your daily work routine or a typical church service when a deep longing seizes your soul. In one moment, everything changes. Something transforms your prayers from forgettable recitations to passionate appeals to your Beloved. Worship comes alive with fresh urgency and unbearable longing. Passion begins to color even the most mundane activities in your life. Everything you do, say, and think takes on a new and vibrant focus—an encounter with Deity.
Consider your daily routine and describe your life focus now. Is it everything it should be?
God seems to appear most often where He is
wanted . He obviously reaches out to those who don't want Him or who don't even acknowledge that He exists—that is the wonder of the cross; yet He is wants to dwell (the non-churchy reading might be “hang out”
among people who desperately want His presence. That is why Jesus said the Father seeks out worshipers. 16 True God Chasers are like David. They want to “hang out in His presence and soak in His glory” forever. 17
Where do you want to “hang out” the most? Are you more comfortable in front of the TV or in His presence?
If you want to pass beyond the symbolic barrier of the veil of separation and into God's presence in the Holy of holies, then don't look to logic and intellect to get you there. They “have their proper place, but it is not in the intimacy of the Holy of holies” ( The God Catchers, p. 40).
I think we've become too familiar with the pleasure of His provisions and the blessings of His hand. We've forsaken the tears of repentance and passionate desperation known by the revered saints of the past. It is time to rediscover the power of passionate and fervent prayer ( The God Catchers, p. 41, italics mine).
If Jesus reflects the nature of the Godhead as Paul claims, then we have all the proof we need that we serve a passionate God who knows how to weep, mourn, rejoice, and be zealous and angry for all of the right reasons.
Are you ready to move past religion's empty platitudes and passionless pretense? Embrace the good things in the church but aspire to go higher and deeper into God's presence. Will you dare to bare your desperation and display your passion for His presence?
Take It Personally!
Passionate pursuit has the potential to change your perspective, like a father lifting up his child to give the child a better view. John was lifted above time to get a better view of eternity.
Scripture Reading
Revelation 3:19b-20, where Jesus commands us to be zealous and repent so He can share a meal with us.
19b Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears
My voice and opens the door, I will come in to
him and dine with him, and he with Me.
The New King James Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1998, c1982.
Prayer Lord, teach me how to pray. Forgive me for my prayerlessness and presumption in days gone by. Impart to me the power and passion of fervent prayer so I may seek You with urgency and effectively pray into being Your will on earth as it is in heaven.
