The depth of our desires as redeemed souls is beautifully expressed in Psalm 73:25-26: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
These words resonate with us, making us say amen. We long to utter them sincerely, just like the psalmist did. We yearn to desire God in the same way. We want Him to reign supreme in our affections. This verse becomes our anthem, our heartfelt prayer. “Lord, I want to yearn for you,” we plead and sing.
This isn’t about fabricated spirituality or trying to earn God’s grace through posturing. This is an expression of a craving that can only exist by God’s grace. God, and God alone, occupies the center of my heart. Only You.
This is the most significant thing in the entire universe. It is our testimony of experiencing God’s love, as the apostle John says: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Our Greatest Passion
Knowing and loving Jesus matters more than anything else in our lives. Yes, other things are important. Faithful theology, integrity, loving the church, healthy relationships, and nurturing our families are all crucial. But what do these things amount to if our hearts are not captivated by Jesus? What lasting impact will they have if the glory of God’s grace does not consume us? How can we truly understand the cross if we fail to fix our gaze upon the bleeding-dying-raising mercy of Christ?
Therefore, it is better, by God’s grace, that our knowledge of God, our pursuit of holiness, our acts of service, and our relationships flow from a life consumed by our Savior. We surrender to His supremacy, living a life of grace that yearns for the One who gives us life and breath, the One in whom we live and move.
You and Only You
It is here, in this longing, that we confess Jesus as better than anything the world offers. We declare that, amidst all the good things God has given us, Jesus is unequivocally superior. As St. Augustine prayed, “Lord, bring to 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… You, Lord, are my king and my God.”
Desiring God has partnered with Shane & Shane’s The Worship Initiative to craft short meditations for over a hundred popular worship songs and hymns.
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