“I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.” Psalm 84:2
Everyone, whether or not they are aware of it, has deep natural and supernatural longings for relationship with our Creator. These longings are our heart cry for wholeness. A wholeness that only comes from relationship with the one who made us and knows us perfectly. Every breath and our sense of being come from God.
When this relationship is broken or out of alignment, we long for wholeness.
There exist forces outside ourselves that litter our real longings with impostors. Our flesh cooperates easily with the World and the Devil that constantly conspire, tempting us to lose sight of wholeness.
The usurper said:
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;[c]
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:13-14
This one is always fighting for control of us, individually and corporately. He comes to steal, kill and destroy by any means possible to gain control.
From the beginning of time, he continues tempting us by punctuating our lives with unsatisfying, momentary longings in hopes of smothering our true longings. The real goal is to separate us from our true eternal identity and destiny.
The celebration of the birth of the Son of God is something the oppressor is especially interested in stealing from us. This time of year, the major tactic he uses is distracting us from the significance of celebrating the Son of God.
Immanuel, God is with us!
Lately, “Be still and know that I am God,” is echoing around me daily. Psalm 46:10
May we all pause daily, if even for just a few moments, to be still, connecting with or most authentic longings.
Only Jesus is able to reconcile us with wholeness. He came offering abundant life. May we turn to Him and receive it, knowing that God rescues us from otherwise certain brokenness and separation from our deepest longings.
Honestly, this reconciliation is something worth celebrating every day.
“A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.” Psalm 84:10
