A PASSIONATE HEART
«So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do» (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NLT).
One of the basic tenets of Buddhism is that desires are the root of suffering. Therefore, Buddhist practice teaches that, in order to avoid suffering, people should free themselves from desire and avoid becoming attached. Clearly, that is not a Christian concept. However, we sometimes misinterpret the Bible and think that obeying God implies dying to our desires and living passionless, boring, and insipid lives.
Jesus taught that «The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!» (Matthew 13:45, 46, NLT). Desiring that pearl so much, the merchant was willing to sell everything to obtain it. Buddhism teaches we should die to desires, but Jesus says, «God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied» (Matthew 5:6, NLT). God wants to sanctify your dreams, not eradicate your ability to dream. God wants to satisfy your deep thirst for living a purpose-filled life.
God gave us the ability to dream so as to attract us to Himself. He gave us a thirst that only He can quench. The problem is not thirst, but rather dry wells, mirages in the desert. The problem is not thirst, but rather our tendency to lick sand.
In God’s hands, our dreams and sanctified passions are a great blessing. In The Journey of Desire, Christian author John Eldredge reflects, «Not a symphony has been written, a mountain climbed, an injustice fought, or a love sustained apart from desire. Desire . . . saves us from committing emotional suicide, from sacrificing our hearts on the altar of conformity.» By taking our thirsty heart to God, we show faith in His ability to quench us. We honor Him with hearts that are truly alive, not numbed by cynicism or anesthetized against all hope.
Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the chance to dream, to desire, to feel passion.
Sanctify me in Your presence and give me intrepid dreams for the glory of Your name. Use the power of my imagination and the passion of my heart for Your honor. Thank You for answering this prayer with much more than I could ask or imagine. Amen.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.