Cherish God’s Stirrings

By Lois J. Stucky (1928 – 2014)

    Let us cherish every bit of interest we have and every bit of hunger and tenderness we feel for God and the things of His kingdom.  It is God at work in us, unworthy though we are, calling us higher, closer, wanting to give us more of His gracious, wonderful and holy Self.  God’s gentle ways may be easily disregarded.  Our inclination is to think more of pleasing ourselves than of pleasing Him.  But we dare not take His workings lightly.  Each one is accountable for his or her response to God’s grace and mercy.

    There is perhaps more in this age than in ages past that can siphon away, slowly, almost imperceptibly, our devotion to the Lord and to the blessed life to which He has called us.  If we are not pressing on actively in pursuit of the things of God, we are most likely stagnated or drifting backward.  It is through revival that God calls us back and restores us to our first love.  It is through outpourings of His Spirit that He fills us and empowers us to press onward in the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Oh, God, awaken and stir us all to hunger for the blessed life You have for those who pant after You and press on after You!  Help us discard that which comes between our soul and Your presence, Your nearness, Your fullness.  Save us from clinging to the cheap and worthless and help us pursue You – “so inexhaustible, rich and sweet” as one songwriter expresses it.

    God help us all not to disappoint His loving heart.  He has blessed purposes for each of us to enjoy the fullness of His life and for each of us to be fruitful in bringing souls into the kingdom.  He is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9).  He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11).  He desires that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4).  Might God so pour out of His Spirit upon us that our hearts and wills will be one with Him in this!  Then millions of the earth’s unreached will be reached.  Eternity will be richer for them.  There will be millions more to glorify God throughout eternity for giving His Son, and millions more to glorify the Son for giving His life.  Is that not, after all, the very purpose for which God created man and put him on this earth – that we might glorify Him, for time and for eternity?

    God has promised to revive the humble and contrite heart (Isa. 57:15).  Let us meet the conditions and ask and receive His full blessing.