“Martha, Martha, you are upset, worried, anxious, troubled by many things. But only one thing matters.” (Lk.10:41) “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps.42:1–2). Jesus speaking to his Bride: “You have abandoned the love you had at first”—love for me and for each other.” (Rev.2:4).
Dear Jesus, many of us remember when “the excellency of knowing you” (Phil.3:8) was greater than any treasure, trust fund, or acquirable “thing.” Worshipping you was our oxygen. Fellowshipping with you was more essential than water, bread, and sleep to us. Being alive to your love was what it meant to be alive, and it turned death into gain. (Phil.1:21).
How does adoring you shrivel to appreciating you? How does panting (desiring, heart-thumping craving, irrepressible longing) for you get replaced with: Yawing in your presence. Lusting for things that will rust. Valuing people’s approval above you delighting in us? (Zeph.3:17). Jesus, forgive and free us.
As our fears get gigantic, our faith grows anemic. We trade “You-for-us” for “us-versus-them.” We start putting more hope in temporal rulers than you, our eternal King. Our national identity becomes more heart-claiming and life-shaping than our heavily citizenship (Phil.3:20).
Jesus, we need you right now. Please renew, reinvigorate, and restore us to our first-love for you and seeking-first of your Kingdom. Make and keep us so thirsty for yourself nothing else will satisfy us. So Very Amen, we earnestly cry out.