Comparative Religion
The other night, we sang a song that carried the line, "and nothing I desire compares with You." It is a beautiful song and is currently very popular in the brotherhood. During our second time through the song, I stopped for a moment and thought about the idea of comparing any of our desires with our desire for Him. I started thinking about all the things I desire most. What IS nearest and dearest to my heart? Is it Jesus? Do thoughts of Him fill my mind? Is it His word and His wishes I meditate on, hope for, dream about? Is being with Him, the thing I crave? Do I long to please Him? Is it God that I worship?
It seems to me that that which we desire most occupies the most space in our hearts, our minds and our thoughts. That which we long for most consumes the most of our time, our thoughts, and our energy. Imagine what our walk with God would be if we truly desired Him more than anything else. It would require us believing that God is what we need and everything else in the world is both optional and expendable. It would require a discipline in our lives---a disciplined life in which one thinks before actions takes place---a life in which one sees the world as temporary and lives for the eternal. Imagine what the church would be like if every Christian longed to please God, craved His presence and His word, desiring Him more than money, more than self and more than entertainment. Imagine just how encouraging, uplifting and spiritual our worship would be. And what would our marriages be like? Imagine if pleasing God made me kinder to my spouse, more patient with my children, and if my children grew up hungry for God and God's things. Imagine if they begged to go to worship because they loved it and desired being with God's people more than they did sleep or play or television. And what would work be like if everyday we completed our tasks as if we were working for God. Don't you think they days would go by faster? Wouldn't we look forward to work? I wonder if our attitude would rub off on others at work and if it could change our entire work environment.
Today, take a moment and think about the way your life would change if God and pleasing Him were that which you desire most. Today, worship God, think about Him, meditate on His word, long to please Him, desire His presence. Because nothing else you desire compares with Him!
Peace
neva
It seems to me that that which we desire most occupies the most space in our hearts, our minds and our thoughts. That which we long for most consumes the most of our time, our thoughts, and our energy. Imagine what our walk with God would be if we truly desired Him more than anything else. It would require us believing that God is what we need and everything else in the world is both optional and expendable. It would require a discipline in our lives---a disciplined life in which one thinks before actions takes place---a life in which one sees the world as temporary and lives for the eternal. Imagine what the church would be like if every Christian longed to please God, craved His presence and His word, desiring Him more than money, more than self and more than entertainment. Imagine just how encouraging, uplifting and spiritual our worship would be. And what would our marriages be like? Imagine if pleasing God made me kinder to my spouse, more patient with my children, and if my children grew up hungry for God and God's things. Imagine if they begged to go to worship because they loved it and desired being with God's people more than they did sleep or play or television. And what would work be like if everyday we completed our tasks as if we were working for God. Don't you think they days would go by faster? Wouldn't we look forward to work? I wonder if our attitude would rub off on others at work and if it could change our entire work environment.
Today, take a moment and think about the way your life would change if God and pleasing Him were that which you desire most. Today, worship God, think about Him, meditate on His word, long to please Him, desire His presence. Because nothing else you desire compares with Him!
Peace
neva
posted by Neva | 7:43 AM
22 Comments:
great thouhgts sis!
something to think on,
huggs
Amen! He SHOULD be our greatest desire.
Great post, Neva
Corinne
I spent some time wrestling with this a couple of years ago. I had fervently prayed about something and had not received it. It was a job opportunity, and it was the thing that I had sought the most in recent years. I thought of the verse from Ps 37: "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." I couldn't understand why I hadn't received this deep desire.
As I thought, I realized that I was skipping the first part of that verse. I had to learn to truly desire the Lord above all. Then and only then could He begin to give me my heart's desires. As long as my chief desires were focused elsewhere, God could not bless.
Thanks for the reminder!
Grace and peace,
Tim
Great thoughts! Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
neva-
Good post.
But, off topic-
So, I understand what you are saying about "popular" in the brotherhood, how do certain songs get to move through the brotherhood that way? Is there a secret Song Leader Association?
I think that's something like Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "Seek God first and His kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well..."
Thanks for challenging me today.
Great challenge today, Neva. As always, you motivate me!
a much needed reminder.
Pat
How do we instill that "desire" in our hearts? Sometimes I feel so guilty because I do want other things more than I want God. I know that is wrong but I am not sure how to change it.
(I am sure you will understand if I do not post my name)
Thank you Neva, in advance.
anonymous
Neva,
I love that song! I love the idea that what we should desire most is exactly the same thing God desires--relationship with Him.
Great post.
Yvonne
Neva, great thoughts and so true. I love your title.
Don, the secret song leaders' society (called Acapella Anonymous) meets in Nashville every other year to determine which songs are to be popular in our brotherhood for the next two years.
Thank you! This is something I need to think about.
Love you,
Monalea
Comparing Jesus to anything in the world always has Jesus on top.
I like this one.
Carol
There should be no comparison between the things of this world and our desire for Jesus. This is a very good reminder, Neva
Rachel
Neva,
I never get tired of your posts. I reread several of my favorites. You consistenly encourage and challenge me. What a true blessing to find this site.
Glynnis
Perfectly put!
Carlos
Neva,
Excellent post as always sister.
Keep us the wonderful post.
They are very encouraging and make me think throughout the day.
Jesus should be our greatest desire. May we desire Him more every day we wake up!!
Dear Anonymous,
You are right, it is difficult to always desire God first. Especially since satan works overtime to try and whet our appetite for the things of the world. Sometimes, our desire for God wanes because He has been relegated to the back burner. When weeks go by and we haven't prayed or read our Bible, when we have been neglecting worship, it becomes more difficult to desire Him more than anything else. However, when He is a part of every day, when we spend time in His word, reading about His love for us, His sacrifice and His power, when we spend time praying to Him, thanking Him for His blessings and His care in our lives, when we spend time with His people, encouraging and building each other up, then His place in the forefront of our minds, increases our desire for Him. The more time we spend with Him, the more we come to love Him and the more we desire Him. When He is our daily focus, other desires get pushed out.
I hope this helps. I said a prayer for you this morning.
Peace
Neva
Lovely post Neva and birthday blessings.
Georgia
I think a good place to start would be thinking about what we are singing instead of just letting it come out of our mouths. It is a very strong statement to say, "Nothing I desire compares to you", maybe we should not say it if it is a lie. I am not picking on anyone, just saying that I often sing lots of things I am not thinking about when I should be.
Also, I do believe that input in is what comes out, so we should be filling our minds with thoughts like are in the song. Eventually, we will be able to mean it if we are pursueing it.
peace with a couple of cents,
kathy
Sounds like heaven on earth to me. Also brings to mind, "Where your treasure is..."
Good Post.
Thanks for checking up on me. I've been really busy studying lately, and I have avoided my friends for far too long.
Great post again, Neva!
Truly nothing can nor should compare with Jesus! If we have our hearts set on Him and on His kingdom the only thing we'd be looking at for comparison would be, "where can I help/serve?" Every person in our lives becomes as precious to us as they are to Jesus and our desire then is that His love, grace and mercy flow through their lives too.
The expression being used today of "the Church has left the building" then takes on a Jesus-focused meaning. We'd be out looking for Him in every person that crosses our pathway.
I pray the enormity, majesty, grandeur of Jesus fill our lives and hearts so completely we have no room for any other than He.
Bless you for this post!!
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