Abideنموونە

Devotional:

Abide as Desire

Do you want the things of God?
Do you crave the things of God?

Like a teenager eagerly waiting to get their license and taste freedom.
Or like someone in love, counting the moments until they see the one they long for.

Do you want the things of God? Desire isn’t just a part of abiding or remaining in Christ—it’s crucial. It’s a necessity.

Wanting Jesus, wanting a relationship with Him, wanting godly things—is essential to abiding. We cannot—or perhaps will not — abide without desire. In today’s passage in Matthew, Jesus says He wanted to gather His people to Himself, but they were unwilling. They did not want Him.

It’s a two-way street.
God wants you.
He wants a relationship with you.
But you must want it too.

In the book of Song of Songs, there’s a story of two people in love, and the language is strong, poetic, and passionate. It paints a vivid picture of deep, overwhelming desire. At one point, the woman says she is lovesick—she can’t wait to be with the one her heart desires.

Do you want the things of God like that? Is He that important to you? Abiding and desiring to abide go hand in hand.

Take some time to ask yourself honestly:
Do I want to desire Him?
Not because I should want to, but because I actually want to.

Whatever your answer is, that's okay.
Bring it to God.
Pray and ask Him to either give you the desire or increase the desire.
He will meet you there.

Prayer:

God, help me desire you and your ways. I know sometimes I want other things more. Help me want you most.