1
What do you long for? Not look forward to but long for?


you can look forward to Christmas, vacation, birthday, end of the week or some special event
longings are different
o they are more epic
o longings are yearning desires
o longings are the most intense form of hope
So, what do you long for?




Do you long to be well?
o broken body or broken heart
o a horrible addiction
o or someone else to be healed?
Do you long for relationship?
o to be married or have a child?
Do you long for meaning?
o have a job
o discover your calling or destiny
Do you long for your soul to be right?
o to be forgiven
o to be assured of your eternal future
These are all epic longings.
2nd question – related – On what do you base those longings?


where are you searching for answers to them?
where are you turning to have those yearnings met?
o others? doctors, experts, counselors, friends
o yourself? ability, intelligence, hard work
o luck? somehow you’ll hit the lottery of life and poof…your longings are met
3rd Question – When are you going to direct your yearnings to the only one who can meet them?


when will you surrender your deepest longings to the Lord of the Universe?
when are you going to place your most intense hope in God?
Psalm 119: 81-88

119 = longest Psalm, longest chapter in the Bible
o 22 stanzas of 8 verses each - based on 22 Hebrew letters
o each verse begins with the Hebrew letter of that stanza (81-88 all begin with Kaph – 11th
letter in Hebrew alphabet)
2
81 My
soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail,
looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?" 83 Though I am like a wineskin in the
smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my
persecutors? 85 The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law. 86 All your commands are
trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause. 87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the
statutes of your mouth. Psalm 119:81-88
The writer’s longings:

salvation, comfort, freedom from persecution, life to be preserved
The writer’s hope:

God’s word, promise, decrees, trustworthy commands, precepts, statutes and love
Somehow through the darkest, bleakest season the writer found hope as they turned to their creator
and father.
Have you?
How do you get to that place?

First, you must have a turning, a repentance, a come to Jesus moment
o in a moment you’ll see this is live and in living color

Then you must establish a daily routine of surrender and trust
o a commitment of turning again and again
o a settled waiting on the movement of the Spirit
As you await the longings of your heart to be met… learn to practice hope.
And now…some of our folks young and old want to show you how to begin
3