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Streetcar Named Desire


Longing,
wanting,
desire...
words that evoke images of passionate love, words that we associate with romance novels, not God. Our problem is that we are so satiated with the lusts of this world, we have drowned out the hunger for what will truly satisfy. We long for shiny new cars; we want chocolate caramel brownies; we desire that head over heels in love feeling all the time.

The average Christian attends church on Sunday in a haze, the words of the songs going no deeper than the vocal chords and the words from the pulpit grazing their heads. With smiles all around, handshakes and appropriate attire, the church looks healthy enough, but where is the DESIRE?

I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits for long, so very long, in vain."
~A.W.Tozer~



I want to be holy, I want to have peace, I want to know the Bible, but do I desire JESUS? I see few people with this kind of longing - a longing after the heart of God. Not longing to be more religious, but longing to know Him. Nothing else will satisfy. That's what I call being passionate and wholly devoted.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the the law that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. Philippians 3:7-10


Paul's passion for Jesus drips from every word in these verses and it is contagious. These are my life verses - I want my life to be defined by a passionate pursuit of Christ, forsaking all other "loves" in this world.

Our hostess this week is Debbie at Chocolate and Coffee - visit her to see more excellent writing on this topic.

Comments

Kris said…
It's so refreshing to know that the only One we have to please only wants one thing of us--our heart. We don't have to please people or be accepted...we just have to love Him. Awesome!
Anonymous said…
What a perfect title!! I always struggle with coming up with something very creative. :)

I'm like you and have not met very many people that truly long for God and a deeper relationship. They are satisfied with Sunday morning Christianity. That's what's been so awesome about blogging. I've met people (like you!) that share my passion to grow deeper in Him every day.

Those verses from Philippians are some of my favorite, too. If we could only remember them in everything we do, think how different we would be!
twinklemom said…
Thank you for a beautiful post about this week's Tuesday quote!! What a very great insight into the quote and...I LOVE your blog title...very adorable!

God Bless You!
ellen b. said…
Those are powerful verses. May God give you the desire of your heart! Blessings on you...
I want to know JESUS!

I've tried everything else and believe me, nothing satisfies like HIM.

Hugs to you, Heather!
lori said…
Yes! "Not longing to be more religious....longing to know HIM..."
a lot of us have lived in the 'religious' place and THANKFULLY I've moved into the KNOWING HIM place....

There are those of us who have found that DESIRE to be closer to HIM...not givin' it up...no way, no how!!
Heather...
you already know this...but in the words of my 13 year old...
YOU ROCK!!!
hugs,
lori
Susan said…
This is all so true what you have written. A pastor one time said during a sermon and it has stuck with me since that day. He said we as believers need to be passionetly proccupied with Christ. That was so profound to me that I still ask myself that question quiet often.
That's the 2nd time today I've had that passage from Philipians quoted to me! Thanks for the reminder to pray for a passion for Christ, and all that is his!
Tami said…
I like this point:

"Our problem is that we are so satiated with the lusts of this world, we have drowned out the hunger for what will truly satisfy."

So true and so sad. Lord, help us.
sharon brobst said…
Heather - such an excellent post. My heart cries with yours...I long to know the heart of God! There are times that my heart aches with the longing of wanting more of Him...
Denise said…
Awesome dear one.
Bonnie W said…
So true, Heather. As a preacher's wife my heart aches for those who lack the desire to know Him fully, intimately and passionately.

Thanks for your post.
Bonnie
Miriam Pauline said…
Wow! Awesome post. Thank you for making me think today! Bless you.
Unknown said…
Excellent post, Heather! So many favorite modern praise songs pop into my head... stirring my soul with desire for Him.

Have a blessed day!

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