It's been a long time since I've done a "something to think about" post! Mostly because I've been having a little difficulty getting my thoughts from the "thought" stage to the "word" stage. But they just keep swimming around in my head, percolating away, driving me crazy as they send my brain in a million ways all at once. So I'm going to try to scribble some of them out and hope they are somewhat clearer than mud sensible.
Passion. The word is such a powerful one, resounding with strength and, for lack of a better word, excitement. It has always stirred very deep feelings and longings in me--I want to be a passionate person, driven by an all-consuming desire to love and live for God. I want to want Him more than anything. But that's just the problem: I usually feel like it stops with "wanting". I just want to be passionate, I don't actually live passionately.
Yesterday at church, Pastor Joe told this story of a time they were singing a song with a line that was something like, "I just want to worship You". He came up and said they should stop singing it, because it was lie; if they were truly obsessed with Christ, it would show in their life. That really struck a chord (or maybe it was a nerve...) with me! "Passion" is not just a word, it's not just a prayer, it's a way of life!
These days, I find myself often surrounded by a group of young people whose passion makes my own tendency toward apathy, complacency, and lukewarm-ness even more glaringly obvious (to me, anyway!). Most of the young people on the Peculiar Party Ministry Team are after God's heart, and it is evident in what I've seen of their life. They make me want to want God more! It makes me stop to wonder--when people look at my life, what is it that they see? What would someone on the outside looking in say that I was passionate about? Are they driven to seek God's face because of what they see in me?
I will never be some kind of really bubbly, extroverted, bouncy sort of person, but that doesn't have to make me any less sold out for God. Mine may be a more quiet sort of passion, but that doesn't mean it's a lesser passion. I want to live my life driven by a desire for God, totally obsessed with Jesus Christ and Him alone. Everything else--it's just fluff.
So capture my heart again
Passion. The word is such a powerful one, resounding with strength and, for lack of a better word, excitement. It has always stirred very deep feelings and longings in me--I want to be a passionate person, driven by an all-consuming desire to love and live for God. I want to want Him more than anything. But that's just the problem: I usually feel like it stops with "wanting". I just want to be passionate, I don't actually live passionately.
Yesterday at church, Pastor Joe told this story of a time they were singing a song with a line that was something like, "I just want to worship You". He came up and said they should stop singing it, because it was lie; if they were truly obsessed with Christ, it would show in their life. That really struck a chord (or maybe it was a nerve...) with me! "Passion" is not just a word, it's not just a prayer, it's a way of life!
These days, I find myself often surrounded by a group of young people whose passion makes my own tendency toward apathy, complacency, and lukewarm-ness even more glaringly obvious (to me, anyway!). Most of the young people on the Peculiar Party Ministry Team are after God's heart, and it is evident in what I've seen of their life. They make me want to want God more! It makes me stop to wonder--when people look at my life, what is it that they see? What would someone on the outside looking in say that I was passionate about? Are they driven to seek God's face because of what they see in me?
I will never be some kind of really bubbly, extroverted, bouncy sort of person, but that doesn't have to make me any less sold out for God. Mine may be a more quiet sort of passion, but that doesn't mean it's a lesser passion. I want to live my life driven by a desire for God, totally obsessed with Jesus Christ and Him alone. Everything else--it's just fluff.
Magnificent Obsession
by Steven Curtis Chapman
Lord, You know how much
I want to know so much
In the way of answers and explanations
I have cried and prayed
And still I seem to stay
In the middle of life’s complications
All this pursuing leaves me feeling like I’m chasing down the wind
But now it’s brought me back to You and I can see again
(chorus)
This is everything I want
This is everything I want
This is everything I need
I want this to be my one consuming passion
Everything my heart desires
Lord, I want it all to be for You, Jesus
Be my magnificent obsession
So capture my heart again
Take me to depths I’ve never been
Into the riches of Your grace and Your mercy
Return me to the cross
And let me be completely lost
In the wonder of the love
That You’ve shown me
Cut through these chains that tie me down to so many lesser things
Let all my dreams fall to the ground until this one remains:
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