There's Still a Missing Piece to the Puzzle!
Missing pieces do more than just complete the puzzle, they also fill an empty space.
What is the empty piece we could potentially be missing today?
Have you ever wanted something so badly that you prayed for it, you saved up for it, and/or you worked really hard for it? Then once you got it, you thought, “Hmmm, this wasn’t as great as I built it up to be and now I want something else”?
There was one occasion I met one of the famous and wealthiest NBA stars in the world He was twenty-four years old, and as he sat on the couch, tears came down his cheeks. "I am the most miserable man in the world," he said. " I have everything I could ever imagine. I have all I want. If I want to fly anywhere, I can go, If I want to float anywhere I have a boat. If I want something, I can go buy it. The cost won't be in mind. But, on the inside there's something missing. I am empty - void - and miserable.
Honesty, this story could be repeated over and over countless times - not just by famous people but by successful people.
Perhaps you sensed this emptiness in your own life?
Longing? For something more....
Have you ever experienced the kind of longing that fills you with anticipation—like a child standing in line at their favorite amusement park?
Does this sound similar to the longing you have—delightful anticipation—when you approach God? Do you long to spend intimate time with Him, communicate with Him, and have Him guide you and instruct you through your day? Do you run to Him often with this longing? The psalmist describes this longing:
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).
Perhaps you've grown numb and you ache to return to your first love. You may not recall the last time you felt a freedom of who you are in God, and the kind of passion for God - you see many have around you.
Perhaps you've lost your desire for God by allowing other things to crowd Him out.
Maybe your heart has drifted from Him to pursue material longings?
What about the possibility of desiring to gain head knowledge about God, and totally neglecting to pursue a heartfelt passion for Him?
Seeking the presence of God, is always better than unknowingly drifting away in absence of God. Right?
Being absence does not necessarily make the heart grow "fonder" in this relationship. An "out of sight, out of mind" mentality can develop if we're not looking for Him throughout the course of our day. It is hard to imagine taking for granted the goodness of God, but we can all plead guilty. A lack of gratitude and contentment with His provisions can steal our affection for Christ. The loss of longing can also be the result of broken fellowship with God as a result of sin. When God opens our eyes to a "blind spot" and we ignore His clear conviction, we develop a "hardened heart" that will grow cold until we are broken in repentance. If you've grown dull in your approach to the Almighty, today you can begin cultivating a fresh hunger for Him!
Three Practical Things to do NOW!
1. Discover time wasters. Consider whether you've allowed other things to fill up your life and crowd out your time with God. Whenever God gives you an assignment there will always be those who come along to distract you from your vision.Remember this, if we lose our focus. . .we have given the enemy an enormous advantage over us. If we lose focus. . .then we get negative by speaking doubt and unbelief. 7 Things we should avoid from distracting us from God's assignment for our lives!
Ourselves
Un-wise People
Material Things
Social Media
Money
Religion
Work See if you have any "time wasters" by keeping a time log. For a week, write down your activities each hour as you progress through your day. At the end of the week, review what you've recorded and discover time wasters that can be released! 2. Cultivate a heart of gratitude. God delights in hearing us thank Him. Meditate on the words of Paul, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!- Phil 4:4..... Start with the basics if you're struggling to find blessings: the gift of sight is a blessing, the ability to think is a blessing, and a glorious sunrise outside is a blessing! Sincere expressions of gratitude throughout the day will most definitely soften our hearts. 3. Turn from sin to Him. Sin blocks our ability to see clearly and dulls our sensitivity to spiritual matters. It breaks our fellowship with the Father and leads to a state of coldness toward sacred things. If you find yourself in that condition, simply return to the One who can cleanse and restore. Ask Him to grant grace for repentance and to renew your hunger once again.
Although repentance is painful, it is also liberating. The cleansing process brings a deeper level of appreciation for God's mercy and holiness. It sheds a new light on our true identity, purpose and destiny. When you sense your heart hardening and pray without ceasing - not a half hearted prayer, but a wholehearted prayer seeking the face of Lord Almighthy. Run to the cross.
"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12).
Where is your heart today—hardened or filled with longing?
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