Passion

During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile. 3 They said to me, “The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said,

Neh 1:1-5 (HCSB)

What are you passionate about? As a Christ follower God has a purpose and plan for your life. We should be passionate about His purpose and plan for us! How do we get passion for His purpose and plan? The same way Nehemiah did. It begins with a broken heart.

I know that seems awfully, well painful. But that's how it begins. We see a need. We hear His call. We understand a problem that pricks our hearts. Nehemiah sat down, wept and mourned with fasting and prayer.

We will never truly have passion for something or someone till we weep over them and pray for their plight. When we do we will come through a painful mourning experience with a passion to join God in what He wants to do in their lives.

The Deep Longing

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?

Psalms 42:1-2 (HCSB)

I live on a farm. My family enjoys living in the country. Our house is surrounded by three important things to a deer; a hiding place, corn and a creek. The creek winds its way around our farm and the deer seem to love being there. They need a hiding place and they really seem to love to eat the corn. But the most important provision on our little haven is the water. Water is necessary to live but it is also a provision of peace and security.

The deer need that water. Now I won't presume to be able to read the hearts of our white tailed friends but I think they long for and thirst for that water. And not just on a hot day. Water is also needed in the cold of winter.

The point is this that they long for the streams of water provided. God has a peace, security and nourishment spiritually that we too need to long for. For us, its not a matter of searching for the spiritual water. We know where to find it. It is simply a need to long for or desire it.