Discipline of Desire (Part 3)

Understanding Psalm 63

We all have a deep desire to connect with God. This is like a deep thirst we feel when we’re in a dry, empty place. It’s strange, but even when we feel like God isn’t there, that’s when we know He’s working in our lives. It’s like when you miss someone so much, it just shows how much they mean to you. The same goes for God. Our longing for Him shows His power to change us.

1. Craving for God

When we truly connect with God, it’s like being in a desert and finding water. And even when we feel like He’s not there, it’s actually a sign that He’s doing something in our lives. We feel unhappy without Him because He’s changing us from the inside.

2. From Knowledge to Experience

Really being with God is not just about knowing things about Him. It’s like the difference between knowing that honey is sweet and actually tasting it. Verses from the Bible, like “If God is for us, who can be against us?” shouldn’t just be facts in our head. They should be like food for our souls, making us feel safe and loved. Whether we feel God’s presence or not is a personal thing.

3. Praising God

Praising God is how we show our belief and love for Him. If you love a sports team, you want to share that with others. It’s the same with God. We need to think about how God loves us no matter what, and how we should obey Him no matter how we feel. This can bring us closer to Him.

When people get married, they promise to stick together no matter what. This is similar to what God asks of us. God promises to bless us no matter what. Thinking about stories like Abraham’s can help us understand God’s love and praise Him more. When we stick to God and promise to obey Him, it’s not about chasing feelings. It’s about realising that God’s love beats everything else.

A conversation between characters in a book called “Jane Eyre” shows how we can stick to what’s right even when it’s hard, and why it’s important to connect with God and still obey Him. If we’re not passionate about God and don’t obey Him, we can become hard-hearted. We should aim to be close to God and find happiness in His presence.