A Desire and a Desperation for God

Daily Scripture Threshing for Friday, September 10, 2021

Today’s Text: Psalm 69:1-12

Key Verse: Psalm 69:9 (NIV): “For zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.”

While ours is a generation in which desire and desperation are often confused. The Bible still insists that eagerness and desperate thirst for God are required for us to do His will on earth. It is the design of God that Christ must remain the desire of all nations. We all know how much we seek time and money to pursue our heart’s desires. We work odd jobs, burn candles of the night, sell up everything or buy up anything to come to achieve our heart's desire. Some of us even pass unto real desperation to achieve things desired. Consider those illegal immigrants to Europe or America, who spend their life savings to get on a risky journey in cramped conditions across dangerous waters and lands. They do all that to enter a country where there is no guarantee of asylum; a likelihood of life in detention; or risk of removal and deportation. The only one thing that describes their passion is desperation. They want something better, and they are willing to give up everything to get to a better place.

When we look at ourselves, one way or the other, we have been in diverse desperate pursuits for different things. But do we long that much for God or things about Him? We are called to a life of unquenchable thirst for God: as the deer pants for the waters. It may be well to remind ourselves of Livingstone whom Stanley begged to return home to Europe, but clung to his heart for Africa, and gave everything to it. Livingstone had every good reason to go back to England: His wife died in the struggle, he missed his children, he battled prostate cancer, and he was destitute of men and means to enable him to make practical progress. But, like Paul, none of these things moved him. It takes a man of deep desire and desperation for God to not count his life dear to himself when God needs it. Livingstone rejected being knighted by the Queen. He declined with a simple courteous statement: “Yes — but impossible. It must not, cannot, will not be. I must finish my task. Thank you very much.” We need such fervent passion for thy house, the service, the glory, and the people of God today.

Quote for the Day: “To be consumed by zeal for God is to have our natural passions weakened, and our fervent love for God awakened.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord. please implant within my heart, the fiery zeal of Jeremiah,

the conviction of Rut, the faith of Mary

and the zest of Paul. Stir my slumbering soul unto passion and devotion for You, in Jesus' name. Amen.

I welcome you to join our Power Contact today, Friday, Sept 10. It is a special Interdenominational prayer teleconference. It starts by 7.00 pm CST (1.00 am Nigeria or UK). To join, dial +1 (515) 606-5147 and then enter code 174776#.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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