- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
Whom have I in heaven [but You]? And [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; [But] God [is] the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26 NKJV
Augustine of Hippo, the fourth/fifth-century church leader, once prayed, “Lord, bring me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights that I once pursued. Enable me to love You with all my strength that I may clasp Your hand with all my heart.”
That’s a great request for any of us to make of God, isn’t it? It’s Augustine’s confession that he wanted—needed—to love God the way the psalmist did.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we may have to confess that we don’t always love and desire God the way we should. We may read Psalm 73 and think, Why can’t I love God and feel that incredible sense of devotion to Him?
The good news is that we can. Just as a needy man once told Jesus, “I do believe: help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), we can come to God our Father and earnestly pray, “I love You and desire You, Lord, Help me to love and desire You more.”
That’s the kind of prayer God loves to hear…and answer!
Prayer: God of love, so many things in this life compete for my attention and my affections. Please help me to remember that You should be the first object of my affection and devotion.
Augustine of Hippo, the fourth/fifth-century church leader, once prayed, “Lord, bring me a sweetness surpassing all the seductive delights that I once pursued. Enable me to love You with all my strength that I may clasp Your hand with all my heart.”
That’s a great request for any of us to make of God, isn’t it? It’s Augustine’s confession that he wanted—needed—to love God the way the psalmist did.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we may have to confess that we don’t always love and desire God the way we should. We may read Psalm 73 and think, Why can’t I love God and feel that incredible sense of devotion to Him?
The good news is that we can. Just as a needy man once told Jesus, “I do believe: help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), we can come to God our Father and earnestly pray, “I love You and desire You, Lord, Help me to love and desire You more.”
That’s the kind of prayer God loves to hear…and answer!
Prayer: God of love, so many things in this life compete for my attention and my affections. Please help me to remember that You should be the first object of my affection and devotion.
