Lingering

In this season of fasting and prayer walking, we are reminded that God wants us to want Him. He loves it when we long for time with Him and then linger, not wanting to leave. “One definition of ‘linger’ is ‘to leave slowly and hesitantly.’ If you don’t find yourself leaving God’s presence slowly and hesitantly, there’s a short somewhere in the connection. When you truly connect with Him, it’s like a warm bed on a wintery morning—you don’t want to leave it.”¹

“One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4; NASB)

Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:

• Ask the Lord to exchange your appetite for earthly things with an appetite for Him.
• Be honest with yourself. If you haven’t wanted to linger in His presence, tell Him so (He already knows) and ask Him to increase your appetite for Him.
• Sit still in His presence for a few minutes and just tell Him how much You love Him. Then, ask Him to cause you to love as He loves.

A prayer you can pray:

Release an appetite upon Your Church, Lord, where we love You more than earthly appetites. We want to give up legitimate earthly pleasures of this world for the extreme pleasure of pursuing more of God. Release extreme longing in the Church. Release extraordinary love upon the Church. Cause the Church to love as You love. We ask You for an even greater grace to receive this hunger for You. Amen.

Today’s decree:

The Lord is increasing our appetite for Him and I want to want only Him!

1 Dutch Sheets. The Pleasure of His Company. (Bethany Book House Publishers, Bloomington, MN, 2014, 167.)