Desire that Drives

“‘You keep him in perfect peace
    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
For he has humbled
    the inhabitants of the height,
    the lofty city…’

The path of the righteous is level;
    you make level the way of the righteous.
In the path of your judgments,
    O Lord, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance
    are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
    my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
    the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
If favor is shown to the wicked,
    he does not learn righteousness;
in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly
    and does not see the majesty of the Lord.
O Lord, your hand is lifted up,
    but they do not see it.
Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed.
    Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.
O Lord, you will ordain peace for us,
    for you have indeed done for us all our works.
O Lord our God,
    other lords besides you have ruled over us,
    but your name alone we bring to remembrance.” Isaiah 26:3-5a,7-13

Longing and desire are inherent to the human heart, planted there by the One who alone fills all in all. Since Eden, affections have warped in disorder. It is now the ongoing tension of wickedness and righteousness, injustice and justice, hurt and balm, dark and light, finite and infinite, that stoke holy desire. As long as we’re in this world, ruled by the transient prince of darkness, we will be caught in the crossfire. When God’s name and remembrance are the desire of our soul, we are driven to see Him reign over all through eternity, though here below we are required to wait, and yearn. (Genesis 3:14-19; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:19)

It is possible to live in the heights here on the ground. When our minds are stayed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we long to see His dominion spread from shore to shore and pole to pole. We grapple with wickedness, corruption, and varied adversaries, and cling to the Rock. He lifts our heads, we glimpse His beauties, knowing that here we see imperfectly but one day, one glorious day, we will see Him face to face. His dominion and reign will rule over all, the kingdom of the world that of heaven. (Psalm 3:3; 1 Corinthians 13:9-12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 11:15)

Where is my mind fixed? When confronted with antagonism, ridicule, or confusion, do I stay my mind on the Lord for perspective, clarity, and peace? When surrounded with evil, or buffeted with dissension or temptation, how am I bringing to remembrance the powerful name of Jesus? How willing am I to wait for Him to meet the eternal longings of my soul, knowing I am made for eternity? And how will I exalt Him, even as I wait? (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions

My God, keep Your name and remembrance the fiery desire of my soul at all times. Come, Lord Jesus!