A Desire for God

Our God has been described as love incarnate. The pure embodiment of this beautiful and powerful emotion. We also know that our Heavenly Father also possesses a full range of other emotions that are just as palpable, just as intense and beyond our ability to fully comprehend. 

Yet, where love may be God’s greatest emotion, His second greatest emotion is desire, and our Lord’s deepest desire is to have a personal, loving relationship with each of His children. It is quite easy to imagine that some of God’s happiest days were when He would walk through the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, cherishing the closeness of their relationship before the fall.

Now imagine what it would be like to have a heart that desires after God as much as He desires after us. From the time of his youth to the moment of his passing, King David had such a heart. We read in 1 Samuel 13:13-14 as Samuel is rebuking Saul after some foolish decisions that Saul had made. He says, “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” The truth is that our Lord is always searching for the man or woman who has a true desire for a deeper relationship.

David was a man who continually sought after the heart of God. That search was a driving factor all throughout his life. Yes, David made huge mistakes, many of which are recorded in scripture, but his greatest desire was always in seeking God’s heart and maintaining a deep relationship with the Lord. 

The Psalms is a beautiful book that describes in wonderful imagery the desire that David had for the heart of God. Within this book are many deeply personal songs that paint a clear picture of David’s heartfelt desire. It is easy to imagine David sitting quietly, thinking about the intense wonder and majesty of God as he penned what we know as Psalm 139. 

His first words lay the foundation of a man pouring out his love and commitment to his God. He says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:1-6)

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will help us develop a deep desire for God as David had. 

Pray that our desire for a deeper relationship with Jesus becomes an all-consuming fire. 

As part of our scripture reading today, let us read the entirety of Psalm 139. Think about the words and the imagery that David uses and feel the intensity of a man after God’s own heart.