It’s ironic that the more we long for Jesus — to know him intimately and love him fully — the more we are deeply satisfied. Most things in life don’t work that way. If you cultivate a craving for chocolate you’re likely to keep eating it and gain weight or get sick to your stomach!
Craving becomes a big problem if what you’re longing for is acceptance or self-worth and you keep striving to achieve it. You can never accomplish enough. Never be attractive enough. Never keep people happy with you. Many addictions and much unhappiness come out of craving for things other than Jesus.
Is the Lord your Portion?
Many times the Psalmist says, “The Lord is my portion.” For instance, he prays, “Whom have I in heaven but you, Lord, and earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26-26).
In other words, “Lord Jesus, I wouldn’t even want to be in heaven if you weren’t there and this earth has nothing that satisfies me except you. My own strength and abilities often fail, but with you living in my heart I have all the power I need and more joy than I can contain.”
What if this prayer were really true of you and I? What would it be like to be the kind of person who continually thirsted for Jesus and found delight in him? Imagine if the way you do your work, relate to people, spend your free time, and even the things you think about were an expression of your love for Jesus. I’m not talking about perfection, but growing towards it, by God’s grace, little-by-little.
You Can Find More Joy in Jesus!
To live by the words “The Lord is my portion” requires abandoning other pursuits and desires, including good ones. It also requires soul training. Longing for Jesus is the only way to participate in and naturally share with others “the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).
A wonderful way to cultivate this devotion to the Lord is to pray the Psalms. We can “take heart” from the Psalmist, praying his prayers to absorb his whole-hearted love for God.
Learn how you can “Pray the Psalms with Jesus.”
