Advent 2020: The Prophet Candle—Hope
Longing
Yesterday, while walking along a path I passed by a scene most of us have witnessed. A mom was working hard to be patient with her 1.5 year old as he wailed. He screamed with longing for his Baa Baa. Apparently, he had left his sheep at his house.
And now he missed his Baa Baa. He longed for his Baa Baa.
We born as creatures of desire. We want things. The question is never “Do we want?” but, “what do we want?”
The Holy Spirit is asking us: “What do you want?”
And the follow up question: “Do you want me? Do you long for me?”
In the Advent season we have an opportunity to evaluate our own longing for the Lord. If we want to arrive at consistent and vivid HOPE, we must long for the Lord. All sorts of things can stand in the way of our passion for God. What you are doing right now is a great step. Keep it up!
Read the first two verses from our passage on Sunday:
1 Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down!
Isaiah 64:1-2 (NLT)
How the mountains would quake in your presence!
2 As fire causes wood to burn
and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble.
Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!
The prophet is praying and therefore modeling for us how to pray. Notice that in the English translation we use exclamation points on the end of both verse one and two. The prayer is emphatic and urgent.
The prophet Isaiah really wants the Lord to move to act.
Do you? Are you hungry for God? If you are like me at all—you have to stoke the fires of your passion for the Lord.
We start our quest through the Advent season by asking God to develop longing within us.
The Psalmist helps us. Read this out loud. Notice the passionate and vivid language.
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?
Psalm 42:1–2 (NLT)
Now, read it again—slowly and make it your prayer:
1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?
Psalm 42:1–2 (NLT)
Throughout this season of Advent, we have a chance to orient our heart around the light of the world: Jesus.
Today, stop and assess your passions and desires.
This song from Audrey Assad has meant a lot to me over the last year. It has helped my desire to be drawn towards God again.
