The Longing for Fascination
Weekly Overview:
All of us have insatiable longings that can only be satisfied in communion with our heavenly Father. The longing to be enjoyed, fascinated, to gaze upon beauty, and to be someone great are driving forces within each of us. The longing to experience intimacy without shame, to be wholehearted, and to make a deep and lasting impact resound within each of us at the foundation of who we are. God created these longings knowing that they can only be fully satisfied in him—that they would be avenues to deeper relationship with him. As we look at each of these longings individually, I pray your heart would find its fulfillment in the loving nearness of your heavenly Father.
The titles and main concept for this week are all derived from The Seven Longings of the Human Heart by Mike Bickle and Deborah Hiebert.
Scripture: "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." Romans 1:22-23
Devotional:
All of humanity is marked by an insatiable desire for fascination. We long for that which is unexplainable, intensely interesting, and unfathomable. But too often we settle for being temporarily fascinated by the things of the world. We look at concepts, cultures, and man-made creations and find fascination in that which is meant to lead us to the One who is most fascinating—our heavenly Father.
You and I were created to be fascinated by the invisible nature and miraculous, supernatural works of God. We were created to know personally the God who created a universe so vast that its enormity is beyond measure. We’re created to experience communion with the God who created that which is so miniscule even our largest microscopes can’t capture it. We serve a God of wonder who alone can satisfy our insatiable longing for fascination.
But somewhere along the way we’ve chosen as a people to seek fascination in the world over God. Romans 1:22-23 gives us insight into this destructive pursuit. Scripture says that early on in history humans “claiming to be wise… became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Sin turned our gaze from God to his creation. We exchanged that which would wholly fascinate us for all of eternity for idols that were never designed to satisfy us at all. You can see it all around. In our culture, we idolize the created over the Creator. We lift up men and women instead of looking to the King of kings. We spend hours placing our hope in that which will never fully satisfy us. I can see it in myself. I jump from material thing to material thing, TV show to TV show, idea to idea, just looking for something to fascinate me. I'll be fascinated with something for a week or month at most, and then I get bored. We buy and sell, get in and out of relationships, and ride emotional roller coasters, the whole time thinking, “This will be it; this is what I'm missing.”
God is calling us to a restored life where our need for fascination is satisfied in him—producing peace, joy, fulfillment and purpose. He is calling us to stop seeking fascination in that which is fleeting and to root ourselves in him who is eternally satisfying. He is calling us to look at the world through a heavenly perspective to see that all of his creation, good or bad, would draw us to himself.
Take some time in guided prayer to assess the ways in which you are seeking satisfaction for your longing to be fascinated. May you be wholly fascinated by your present, eternal, and loving heavenly Father today.
Guided Prayer:
1. Assess your own heart. Where do you seek fascination? Are you looking to the created or the Creator to satisfy your need to be fascinated?
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you explore the depths of God. Have faith in God's word:
“These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”Proverbs 25:2
3. Ask God to teach you something new about himself.Ask him to show you how he desires to satisfy your longing for fascination.
“Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.”Psalm 5:7 (NLT)
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29
God designed the world in such a way that it would direct us back to him. He wants you to be fascinated with your spouse, nature, ideas, creation, and even entertainment, as long as they direct you back to their true source! He wants to fascinate you both through the works of his hands and in spending time with him in meditation, worship, study of the word, and simply listening as he speaks. He’s designed so many wonderful avenues with which to satisfy your longings—just don't get caught up with the created things themselves. May God satisfy your longing for fascination today and every day. May he remain the source of your wonder and awe. The choice is up to you! What will you spend your time and energy seeking today?
Extended Reading: Romans 1
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