Rediscovering the Heart of Worship
In our pursuit of a deeper connection with the Almighty, I firmly believe that there are two fundamental attitudes that we must adopt. The first is a heartfelt surrender, which arises from experiencing the Lord’s presence in a new and profound way. This surrender is accompanied by an overwhelming sense of awe, unbridled joy, and irrepressible love – all of which are direct consequences of His presence in our lives.
The second essential attitude is a relentless yearning, an unquenchable thirst to find the One whom our souls love. It is this longing that drives us to seek Him with all our hearts, even in the seeming absence of His presence. These two attitudes – abandonment and longing – are the twin tracks that lead us into our destiny in God and guide us toward true spiritual fulfillment.
The Deception of Superficiality
However, we often struggle with the deception that we can seek God on our own terms, rather than surrendering to His presence. This deception is rooted in our tendency to settle for superficiality, rather than pursuing a deep and meaningful connection with Him. We have legitimized shallowness and allowed it to become our acceptable norm, rather than seeking the Promised Land of God’s living presence.
The Call to Return
The call from heaven is clear: Return to your dwelling place in God! It is only when we seek His face, rather than just His hand, that we can experience true healing and restoration. As David so eloquently put it, “Thy face, O God, I shall seek” (Psalms 27). This is the essence of having a heart after God – seeking Him for who He is, rather than just what He can do for us.
The Promise of God’s Presence
The Holy Spirit bids us to draw near to God, promising that as we do, He will draw near to us. It is His presence that heals our land and revives our souls. As Hosea so beautifully puts it, “So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth” (Hosea 5:15-6:4).
A Call to Action
It is time for us to seek God with all our hearts. I urge every pastor to guide their church, and every parent to lead their family, into an attitude of seeking God. Let us consecrate a room in our churches or homes as a “tent of meeting,” where we can seek the Lord together. For it is only when we seek Him with all our hearts that we can experience the fullness of His presence and the promise of His word: “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you” (Jeremiah 29:12-14a).
A Prayer for Revival
Lord Jesus, my soul yearns and longs for Your courts. Guide me into Your holy Presence, dear Lord. Let me find You again in a new way. I cannot live without Your constant love. I am desperate for You, Jesus. Restore my longing for You until I find You, and in finding You, abandon myself totally into Your love. Amen.
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