Longing For Conversation

Is there a longing in our Christian life that we have been unable to figure out? Has there been an empty spot in our prayer life that we haven’t been able to fill? Maybe we’re like the man who came by the office one day and asked, “What do you do when you’ve been a Christian your whole life and prayer doesn’t feel real?” This man was longing for conversation with God; he just didn’t know it. Prayer is more than a list of “pleases” and “thank-yous”; it is a deep conversation with God.

A young man who was seeking God went to a wise older mentor for help. “How can I find God?” he asked the old man. The old man took him to a nearby river. Out they waded into the deep water. As soon as the water was deep enough, the old man grabbed the young man by the neck and pushed him under the water. He held the young man down until the young man was flailing in the water in desperation. Another minute and he may well have drowned. When the young man stopped coughing and gasping for air, he asked his mentor indignantly, “What did that have to do with my finding God? Are you crazy? The old man asked him quietly, “While you were under the water, what did you want more than anything else?” The young man thought for a minute and then answered, “I wanted air!” The old man replied, “When you want God as much as you wanted air, you will find Him.” How desperately do we want God? Are we longing for Him? Are we thirsty for Him? Are we crying out to Him?

Jeff