Oh, the beauty of God’s glory! Like a glittering path, it shone before me as I sat on that bench, praying. When I closed my eyes, I felt Psalm 84 washing over me, resonating deep within my soul: “My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” My heart was longing for Him.
If I were to capture the essence of Psalm 84 in a title, it would simply be “Longing.” You hold the key to your heart; only you can articulate what lies beneath, waiting to be uncovered as your soul’s deepest desires. If you could approach God and ask for anything—be honest—what would flow from your lips? Take a moment to reflect on the feelings of discontent that have followed you. When you glance back over the years of your life, what challenges weighed down your spirit? What moments ignited joy and brightened your days? If you could ask God to change a single thread of your life’s fabric, what would it be?
Do these thought-provoking questions often creep into your mind? The truth is, the course of our lives—the dreams we chase, the words we speak, our very actions—are all intricately woven from the longings of our hearts. Scripture reminds us that we truly live from our innermost being; even our mouths express what resides there.
We all know this to be true whether we admit it or not.
That God has intricately designed a unique longing in each of us, one that only He can fill. Yet, too often, we find ourselves attempting to satisfy this void with fleeting human approval, material possessions that rust, success that fades, the illusion of control, or temporary pleasures. But let me assure you: the treasures of this earth will never quench the profound thirst that resides in your heart.
Perhaps you find yourself feeling disheartened or questioning your life’s purpose. You may be sipping from dry wells that promise refreshment but leave you parched or consuming bread that cannot satisfy your deepest hunger. You’re searching for fulfillment in places where it simply cannot be found.
As I sat there in prayer, eyes closed and heart open, the sunglitter a shimmering trail and illuminating everything around me. I squinted against the dazzling light, captivated by its brilliance—a divine sign that spoke directly to my spirit.
**Confirmation on the Word “Zion”**
A singular, transformative word has shaped my journey to know the Lord: “Zion.” It all began with the first song I ever penned, “Mountain of Peace.” In a time of deep yearning and heartache ache I cried out to God, and He led me up a spiritual journey to Mount Zion.
The lyrics of the song I wrote still draws me back to Zion, the “mountain of the Lord,” a sacred refuge where God’s presence resides and His will unfolds like lyrics. Nearly four decades ago, that truth reached out to me, whispering in my heart, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.”
I discovered that the Lord’s dwelling place is in Zion, where my spirit instinctively longs to be—to stand humbly in His presence. Zion appears over 150 times in Scripture, a profound symbol meaning “a sign.”
Christ Jesus is the very cornerstone of Zion. As it is beautifully expressed in 1 Peter 2:6, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Psalm 84 serves as a continuous reminder of this longing. In verse 5, we find the words,
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are the highways to Zion.”
A heart that is a highway to Zion means my spirit is ceaselessly drawn to God; it perpetually races down the highway towards Him.
Yes the purpose of the Church we built was to be be placed on the highway. But the deeper purpose was my heart being the highway to Zion.
He knew the longing in my heart
And that day, as the sunlight sparkled like glitter all around me he revealed yet again my purpose.
