Nothing On Earth
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
Something changes when we can view our relationship with God not as an obligation to keep up with but as a precious treasure we have discovered. The words of Psalm 73 go beyond mere recognition of God’s divinity. They speak to his desirability. Although he could command our worship and service with the splendor of his power, he chooses instead to captivate us with hope, stir us with passion, and woo us with love.
When we live in this relationship, we can turn like the psalmist and say that “there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”
I am thinking this morning about how Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV), “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” It might be that you want to pursue God in this way, but you cannot figure out how to live it out. I can relate.
There are times in life when we feel like we can easily access the Lord. We live for the times when our hearts naturally long to be with him. We think back to the special moments where it seemed like we could effortlessly meet with him. We remember the glory days.
As with any relationship, the honeymoon phase will eventually fade away. Perhaps certain events or moments will reinvigorate a relationship down the road, but all earthly relationships have their rise and fall. We might be disappointed about this reality, yet I find that the most meaningful growth happens in the valley. The strongest bonds are formed in the struggle and trial.
There is a difference between affection and devotion. God wants both. We can confess that he is beautiful, lovely, good, holy, and worthy, but we can get to a deeper place of absolute devotion. We can come to the realization that there is nothing in heaven or on earth that could replace the Lord. He becomes the singular desire of our hearts.
We all take a different journey with the Lord. I want to remind you that there is no condemnation for you if your journey seems to be just difficult. You are not a stubborn exception. Despite what we may wish to believe, no saint walked in glory without suffering. It is in the refinement of trials and testing that we become more devoted to Jesus.
Whether you are on the mountain or in the valley, you can keep pursuing Jesus today. As he leads you, the words of verses like Psalm 73:25 will only become truer in your life.
If you are looking for a song to accompany your devotional time, you can listen to “Mountain to Valley” by Jason Upton. I have included the YouTube link, but you can listen anywhere.
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Abiding happens daily in his presence. Abiding Daily is a simple and practical reminder to stay connected to the vine. Each prompt is inspired by the scriptures and designed to point you toward prayer and encounter. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To get the Daily Invitation sent to you every day click this link or text “Daily” to +1 (779) 237-3914.
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Our first devotional book is available for pre-order! Abiding Daily: Volume One is a devotional book including 120 prompts from the Daily Invitation. This book is designed to help believers connect with God through the word and discover more of what it means to abide in Christ. Click here to learn more.
