Longing for God
What does longing for someone mean? I believe it means that individuals are unfulfilled and unsatisfied because they could because they want to be near a particular person. Generally, when someone is dearly loved by the individual longing for him/her, they will always be in their minds.
Can you imagine how desperate it is underwater for a long time that you expected? As every second passes, you long to reach the outside and breath the air. The only desire all this time, when you are inside the water, is to breathe the air. This is precisely what it means to long for the Lord. In other words, it means to thirst and hunger for God with a similar desire that pushes you to quench your body with water and food.
David compared the longing He had for God to a deer that pants for the water brook. I believe this is one of David’s character that made God say that He is a man after His heart.
Even now, God desires us to long for Him and His presence more than life itself. In this yearning, we are overwhelmed and fulfilled by the Lord, and we also recognize and reflect on everything that Jesus has done for us.
We can learn so much from David because he desired to seek God. No wonder he said that he would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than dwell in the tents of the wickedness.
May we also long for God more than anything in this life, for it is in Him that we live, move, and have our being.
Decide to always long and seek God more than anything. My longing for God pushed me to seek God and fast for three days in 2018. Nothing could have quenched me the desire I had for God; how I pray that you will also seek God’s presence in your life.
Make a list of 10 verses in Psalm about God’s Presence:
Scriptures
Psalm 42:1, As the deer [b]pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 63:1, O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.
Acts 17:28, For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Prayer
Oh Lord, my deepest longing is for You, for You only can satisfy me. You alone are my anchor, my confidence, my hope, my glory, and the lifter of my head. My Heavenly Father, You alone fills my emptiest parts of my heart. Your love keeps me. Your grace has preserved me. I love You, Lord, In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
The Name of Jesus
Jesus’ Name is mighty that a lack of knowledge about it robs us of God’s fulfillment and blessings in our lives. The devil does everything to keep humankind in the dark that he may always oppress them. However, the power in the Name of Jesus brings salvation and redemption from every oppression providing freedom and dominion.
There is no salvation without the Name of Jesus, for it is the only Name under heaven given to us in which we must be saved. Moreover, this Name means Savior. Salvation means deliverance or preservation from sin, loss, harm, or ruin.
For this reason, there is no deliverance and preservation from sin and its outcome apart from the mighty Name of Jesus.
For us to enjoy the full benefits of salvation, it is paramount to understand the power of this Name:
The Name of Jesus is above every other Name
Only by the Name of Jesus do we receive anything from God
Everything that Jesus is and carries is in His Name.
We have victory in the Name of Jesus.
We have authority In the Name of Jesus.
Demons flee at the mention of the Name of Jesus.
Take time to thank God because of the Name of Jesus.
Write down and meditate on Philippians 2:9-11
Scriptures
Philippians 2:9-11, Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every Name, 10 that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 4:12, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 16: 23-24, “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you. 24 Until now, you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full.
Mark 16:17-18, And these signs will follow those who [a]believe: In My Name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for the Name of Jesus, the Name in which I am saved, delivered, and preserved. I acknowledge all that Jesus has accomplished for me. Thank You for that. By mentioning the Name of Jesus, every knee in heaven and earth bows down. Therefore, my victory is guaranteed, and no works of the devil can prevail in my life. Amen
God’s Faithfulness
God’s faithfulness is a commitment and trustworthiness to fulfill His promises to us. We should always remember that our God is not a distant and cold supernatural being who is always demanding us to meet His needs. But He is a relational Father who created everything from His abundant and overwhelming love with the Trinity.
Thus, we should understand God’s faithfulness from the relational perspective and always remain faithful to us.
Since God created time, everything has been in fluctuation apart from Himself. The atmosphere alters with the seasons, and we also experience different seasons. Some seasons are filled with joy, happiness, while challenges feature others. But in all these, God is faithful, and this should always be our anchor and hope.
Faithfulness is one of our Heavenly Father’s unchanging character. It implies that He will act according to His nature, and whatever He says He will do, it is exactly what He will do. He never denies Himself. For this reason, when He says He will bless, heal, deliver, sanctify, redeem, and save, you can depend on Him to do so. Since God will not change His mind concerning our salvation, we have the confidence of everlasting security. Also, because Our Heavenly Father is the ruler and creator of the universe, we should never fear what we face. He formed His plans before the universe’s foundation with incredible faithfulness, and they cannot be changed or frustrated. For this reason, we can depend on God’s faithfulness and enjoy peace in every situation. Even though seasons will change, the Lord is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
Take a moment and focus on God’s Faithfulness. Remember all the times that He has manifested His faithfulness even when you are not faithful.
Make a list of God’s faithfulness in your life.
Scriptures
2 Thessalonians 3:3, ” But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
1 Corinthians 10:13, ” No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Prayer
Father, thank you for being always faithful in my life even when I am not faithful. Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You for every blessing You have bestowed in my life through Christ. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.
God’s Protection
The Bible is full of God’s promises of His protection for us. For instance, Psalm 91 is a perfect example of God’s protection over our lives. Whether it’s protection from accidents, demonic attacks, and contagious diseases, this Psalm provides us with verse after verse promising us that Our Heavenly Father is watching over us to deliver and keep us from any evil.
When we recognize God’s blessing of protection to enjoy, then we can live with hope, and confidence not overwhelmed by fear of the unknown.
One way we can walk in God’s protection is by filling our hearts with protection scriptures and recognizing that as God’s children, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have secured for us divine protection.
As we let God’s Word dominate us and guard our hearts, The Lord’s peace will anchor our hearts, and fear will dispel. Another way to enjoy the blessing of God’s divine protection is by speaking and praying out these scriptures. Psalms 118:8-9 says it is better to trust in the Lord than in people. May we trust and depend on God to watch over us, our families, and everything that concerns us.
Take time to reflect on Psalms 91.
Write it down in Your own words declaring what God will do in your life:
Scriptures
Psalm 91
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him, I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the [a]fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he has known My Name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Prayer
Jehovah Adonai, thank You that in everything You are my strength and shield. You are alone are my unshakable rock, fortress, and refuge. I am grateful for Your divine protection from all dangers. Even now, I believe that no evil will befall me, and no plague will ever come near dwelling. I decree that I am delivered from terror and oppression. Thank You that I can live fearlessly because You always watch over me. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, everything that concerns me functions under an open heaven of blessing, protection, provision, and favor. Jesus Name I pray, Amen.