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As a believer, I am constantly trying to know and yearn for His Word more each day. His Word teaches me that the way to grow closer to Him is to Pray, Study His Word and Share His offer of salvation to anyone who asks. He has given those of us who are saved, His Holy Spirit who guides us and prompts us every day. He gives us the longing that we find in our hearts for God and His Word.
In the Psalms below, I wanted to point out a couple of things that I believe can help us all to have that “yearning” and strong desire that the bible talks about.
A strong desire to know and follow God’s will
Psalm 119:20 (NASB)
20 My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times.
Isaiah 26:9 (KJV)
9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
In these 2 verses, the writers are longing deeply for the the Word of God. Not only do they long for understanding it, but know that they must follow it. They know that they must share so that others will learn righteousness.
An understanding that I must rely totally upon God for everything
and that He alone should be my hearts’ desire.
Psalm 73:25 (NKJV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psalm 63 (NIV)
1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Above, we see the strong understanding that we must rely totally on God and that our desire should be focused on what He wants and what is pleasing to Him and Him alone.
God’s Word is Perfect, Pure and Sweeter than Honey
Psalm 19: 7,8, 10 (NASB)
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalm 119: 97, 103 – 104 (NASB)
20 My soul is crushed with longing After Your ordinances at all times.97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
The last two verses speak about the perfection of God’s Word! How His Word should be desired more than gold and and how His teachings are sweeter than honey. It is through His Word that we understand the teaching and long for it more everyday of our lives.
Our Application from His Word:
We could start by asking ourselves the following questions!
- Do we long so much each day that we are crushed by not spending time in it?
- Are we willing to rely upon His word and upon Him for everything in our lives?
- Do we believe that His word is perfect and is more desirable to us that gold? ie our own desires, wants and wills.
If we come to the point of total submission to God, believe His Word is worthy to follow and is good for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, then we are on the first steps to drawing closer to Him, growing in our desire for His Word and knowing that His Word is all we need to guide us in this world.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
My prayer for all of us, is to have a strong, undeniable, unshakable, deep yearning for the Word of God and to want to draw closer to Him and to follow him more and more everyday.
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