longing

by

Hebrews 11:16 What Are You Longing For?

Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

Nearly every person desires for something to be better than what it is. People can always find ways or things that could be improved in their own lives or around them. No matter how great a nation is, a person can find something that could be better and they wish it could happen.

While most have these desires, most also do not know how to make it happen or even expect things to change.

As the author of Hebrews lists people of the bible and how they lived by faith, he points out that they were looking for a country that is in heaven. With this longing in their hearts, God calls them His people and prepared for them a city.

Although most people have desires for something to happen, most also do not expect those things to actually occur. Often people lose faith in what could possibly make it happen. This occurs when the change takes too long to become a reality.

True believers will have to live by faith in God. He has promised something 2,000 and more years ago that still has not occurred. God promised life for eternity in heaven, in a place He has prepared for them, but it has yet to happen.

Instead of being like the world, longing for things here on this earth, the believer will have his heart set on things of God. His desire and focus will be on building a greater kingdom that is yet to come. It is focused upon eternity in heaven, rather than the temporary things of this earth.

Living in this way is living by faith in God and what He promised.

You may have many different desires for things in your day-to-day living. There may be many things that you want to see changed or made better. While all of these things may be good, they are not always what is best and many may be just temporary changes.

Allow your focus and trust be upon God and His eternal kingdom. Keep working in faith to build His kingdom greater and greater until it is fulfilled for all eternity.

Do not lose heart in the failures of this world, but trust God in His promises and long for what He has for you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will have faith in all of God’s promises; that you will desire what God has for you; that you will focus on building God’s eternal kingdom; and that you will live by faith in God.

by

Hebrews 11:16 What Is Your Heart’s Desire?

Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

All around the world there are many people who are longing or desiring for a better place to live. For some it is seeking to be in a different country, while for most it is just in a different part of their own country.

Many feel that if they were living in a certain area, life would just be great with very few problems. Often the perfect place is never actually found.

The author of Hebrews had been talking about men and women of faith. He states that they were seeking a home outside of this earthly realm and that God is preparing them that new home.

While the world is seeking the perfect place to live on this earth, believers have something greater to look forward to. No nation on this earth is perfect, because every nation is made up by and ruled by men who are sinners and fail.

So instead of seeking out a new place here on the earth, believers are looking forward to a new place in heaven.

Every believer is on a journey to a new place being prepared for them in heaven, even while they live on this earth. This journey is one of faith. No one can see the new place in heaven, but believe that God is preparing it for them as He says He is.

As one believes God’s word about eternal life in heaven, it gives one strength to keep moving forward. He will not grow discouraged when faced with the troubles of this world, because he knows that there is a better life coming.

You will have days in your life that there are many struggles. Instead of focusing on a new place here on their earth, focus upon what God has in store for you.

Put your heart upon being with God for eternity in heaven, the best place possible. God is preparing the perfect home for you right now. It will only be a matter of time before you get to go to that new home.

Do not focus upon the temporary places of this earth, that will fade away, but upon God and His kingdom. You belong to God and He will give you the best in the end.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that God will give you a vision of what He has prepared for you; that you will trust God’s promises to you; that you will not get discouraged with the temporary things of this earth; and that you will live to please God.

by

Job 29:4 A Longing Desire

Couple on a beach

Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, Job 39:4

It is very common to look back on days go by and desire to have them back. People often remember of good times in the past and want to go back to those days.

Those longings can be for going back to a home town, back to a high school, back to an old job, back to some old friendship, or something else that brings good memories. As much as one may long to go back to those ‘better’ times, it is usually not possible, and most often things have changed to the point it would not be the same.

One of the desires Job had was to go back to the time he felt God’s intimate friendship within his house. He is remembering of a time when God always seemed to be there and everything was working out just right. There were no problems or challenges. As he says this, Job is going through the trial of his life and God appears to have disappeared.

Longing for days long gone in which a believer felt an intimate time with God is very common for believers. This becomes very true during a trial in life. People want to go back to an old church, or a time when there seemed to be no challenges. They want to ‘feel’ God in their life.

Desiring God’s intimate relationship should be a high priority for every believer. However, that does not mean one is always on a high feeling that God is right there. It means that one is standing in faith that God is still there and is in control during a storm in life. It is holding on to faith in God.

Seek to have that intimate relationship with God at all times in your life. Make it your highest goal in life. That way when the trials of life come, you will remember that God is still with you, despite not feeling it.

Following and believing in God is more than just a feeling, but a matter of faith and the heart. It is knowing God is with you.

Take time every day and throughout each day to spend time with God. Build that intimate relationship with you. Read His word and spend time in prayer, talking to Him. God wants to spend time with you, are you spending time with Him?

I pray today that you will know personally know God; that your heart’s desire will be to be with God; that you will have an intimate relationship with God; and that you will know that God is with you at all times in life.