The Last Word - Jim Trick

This week the Last Word comes from our Nomad North Pastor, Jim Trick in Marblehead MA.

Desire

"and if you want more love, why don't you say so" John Mayer

As a songwriter I have come to realize that there is nothing so poetic as a simple truth highlighted in such a way as to bring fresh realization and understanding. In the song Say What You Need To Say, musician John Mayer achieves this level of poetry in a simple line. In our walk with Christ I also feel like simple truths can get to the heart of a point and bring quick, clear, beautiful clarity.

This week's message talked about desire in the context of proximity.  God's desire to be close to us and what that cost and what it entailed. It is humbling and amazing and I can't even fully get my head around it. We are left however with a question. What about my desire for God? For many of us we immediately feel like our level of pure desire for God is lacking. We feel like we are failing and then feel guilty. As if we just need more books, prayer groups, Bible studies, programs, services, quiet time or acts of service. We convince ourselves that if we just did a little more, certainly our faith level and desire for Jesus would overflow. For a season we become overachievers and while we may look more faithful often trying to earn desire has the opposite effect. So what is the key? For those who listened to Bill's message and felt convicted that in light of God's desire for us we should desire Him more how do we achieve this?

This is where John Mayer comes in. The line "and if you want more love, why don't you say so" invites the listener to simply ask for what they want. This my friends is my invitation to you today. Ask for what you want. You are the children of a wonderful God who loves you and wants to equip you for all that he has called you to. In Mark 9 a man is famously quoted as simply asking God to "help his unbelief". Asking for what we need is a common theme in scripture. It is counter intuitive to our culture because we are programmed to work hard for everything.  While God does not want us to be lazy He does want us to trust in Him. Demonstrate your dependency by asking Him to increase your desire for Him. Offer your simple but powerful request as beautiful poetry to our great God.   Pray with me...

Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. I confess my distracted heart to You and I ask You to increase my desire for You. I ask You to help me to receive all the love You have for me. Adjust my motives and make them pure. Oh Lord, fill my heart to overflowing with faith in You. In Christ I pray. Amen