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I have longed for many things
over the years. When I was a
child, I longed for my daddy's
approval and praise. In high
school I longed for a date on
Friday night, good grades,
and graduation day with a
college acceptance letter.
After my accident, I longed
to be on my feet. My longings
nowadays are often pretty mundane,
such as hankering for a slice
of something sweet and
chocolaty after dinner.
Today's verse tells us what God
longs for; "The Lord longs to
be gracious to you." The word
'longing' is only used this way
twice in scripture - the other
time is when Jesus longed
to gather the people of
Jerusalem under his wings.
Notice something about
God's longings? They are
focused not on things, but
on people. His yearnings are
never directed inward or
self-focused, they are outward.
Never does he express a
longing to benefit himself.
His heart's desire is to benefit
his people that they might glorify him.
Oh, how unlike my yearnings
are from God's! Too often my
desires are about what I want
rather than what I desire to
see happen in others. How
often do I actually yearn for
God to be glorified and
his kingdom advanced?
* * * * * * * *
The journey of the Christian
is to strive to be more and more
like God. Take a giant step
in that direction today by
asking the Lord to cleanse
and refine your longings.
A good place to begin is with
James 4:8 where it says,
"Draw nigh to God, and he
will draw nigh to you. Cleanse
your hands, ye sinners;
and purify your hearts,
ye double minded (KJV).
Purify my heart, oh God, and place
within me a passionate
longing to know you better...
and to look out for the interests
of others before my own.
I long for you to be glorified
in my life... I desire for your
Gospel to go forth into the
world... I long for your soon return! | 
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God is longing
Today's Inspiration