The Lord has directed my thoughts to the issue of passion this afternoon. The dictionary defines passion as: “A strong and barely controllable emotion.”
Passion is displayed all around me:
- Some are passionate about their favorite
sports team. - Some are passionate about video games.
- Some are passionate about a boy/girl.
- Some are passionate about money.
- Some are passionate about their appearance.
What are you passionate about?
More importantly – the question I am asking myself this afternoon – what am I passionate about?
The right answer, of course, is Jesus. Most of us reading this know that. But a sober self assessment reveals some glaring inconsistencies in my life. The way I am spending my time, and the things that have been consuming my thoughts indicate that my passion for Jesus has ebbed.
Of course I love Him! He created me. He redeemed me. He fills me. He owns me.
But my thoughts have been more for myself lately.
I read a quote on Facebook recently – I can’t recall it exactly – nor do I know who to credit it to, but the gist of it was this: “You and I are typically the last ones to notice our own self absorption.”
Here is my earnest, desperate prayer today. If it connects for you, I hope you’ll make it your prayer as well:
Dear Lord, I suddenly realized just an hour ago that I’m not as passionate for you and about you as I once was (as I want to be). I don’t know what happened. The stresses and concerns of life maybe? I’m not sure. It doesn’t really even matter. Father, please forgive me. Please renew a right spirit within me. I want to burn brightly for you. I want to live rightly and walk justly. I desire that my life, my attitude, and my very person would draw attention to you and you alone. I know that nothing else matters in my life but Jesus and Him crucified. Please give me the strength, clarity, and energy to live that way every moment of every day. Increase my hunger for you. Increase my desire for you. I pray that my life, my thoughts, my attitude, and my very personhood would draw attention to you and you alone. I love you Lord. Amen.
