Grace Beyond Measure: I Want Jesus

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1

“I want Jesus!” shouted my three year-old granddaughter from the back seat of my car. Imagine my surprise and delight. I wanted to shout back, “You may have Him!” Or, “He wants you, too!”   But I didn’t.

She was referring to her favorite music CD that we enjoy singing along with, so I knew what she meant by her words. However, I couldn’t help but sing praises of thanksgiving to God in my heart for all that her declaration implied.

Do I want Jesus? Do I want and need Him even more than my next breath of fresh air—air that He faithfully provides? Truthfully, most of the time I live as if I don’t.

What is in the forefront of our minds as we begin a new year?

To long for God is to entrust to Him all of our soul’s desires and the physical needs of our bodies. He is the only One Who satisfies.

This wanting is expressed as an earnest desire to come before God and to enjoy Him and His favor. There is no want more deeply felt than that which is experienced when one who loves God feels cut off from connection with Him.

Can we wholeheartedly say, “I want Jesus?” Sometimes. What would our lives be like if we were to waken each day and speak out loud, “I want You, Jesus?” Undoubtedly they would be transformed by a fresh mindset and renewed focus on—Jesus.

Delight.

Lord Jesus, above all, may the desire and cry of my heart be, “I want You.”

Karen Sims