Reflection: The Renewing Prayer of Longing (March 28, 2012)

Mid-Week Lent 6
Psalm 63:1-8; Ecclesiastes 5:10-19
2 Corinthians 5:1-9; Matthew 6:24-33

We all know what it's like to long for something, to have a deep desire for an object, a person, a relationship, or a feeling about things. We may long for different things, but we all experience the sense of longing.  Longing in and of itself is neither good nor bad.  But what we long for can be good or bad, beneficial to us or harmful to us, pleasing to God or an affront to Him.  Still, whatever it is we are longing for there is only one thing that can fill up that longing: satisfaction.

We learn from God's Word and from our own sinful experiences that worldly cravings cannot be satisfied.  Ecclesiastes 5:10 sums it up well, "Whoever loves money, never has money enough."  Whether we long for money or the things that money can be used to acquire for us, when our hearts are set on the what the world offers to satisfy us we will always be left empty.  As much as we think that a certain amount of money, a highly desired possession, a much sought after relationship, or any other worldly thing can satisfy us, we learn -- often through very difficult lessons -- that they do not quench our desires.  They do not because they cannot.  What we are actually longing for is something far different and far more than what we think we want for ourselves.

When we turn to the Lord with our prayers of longing we find that He is pleased to answer us with satisfaction.  He works this satisfaction in us by first shifting our cravings and desires from the things of this world to the things of His Kingdom.  He shows us what it means to "seek first His righteousness and His Kingdom."  Then, when our hearts are set on things above, He adds to our lives all of the things that the "pagans run after" without ever being satisfied.  Then, on top of all that He gives to us to fill up our longings, He adds the promise of eternal riches sealed and guaranteed with the Holy Spirit.  In answering our prayers of longing, God grants us more than our hearts could ever desire.

Audio file of the sermon based on this reflection