This may be hard to fully comprehend, but happiness, euphoria and ecstasy are not inventions of man, nor are they fully experienced on earth. It was God who created the very greatest of feelings that reside in our souls.

It's natural to wonder whether or not in heaven, these same types of feelings will be fully experienced, or are our earth-feelings simply an exotic teaser, never again to be experienced as intensely in Heaven as they are on earth?  Is Heaven going to be a non-stop hymn sing and prayer meeting, or will there be pleasures in heaven that far exceed the very greatest ecstasies of earth?

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Several well known 'sufferers' have provided us valuable God-insights concerning trials and suffering that most everyone has and will experience in this life. Listen to these men of God speak:

PETER: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." 1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV. 

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Briefly, in Matthew 22:37-39, God summarizes His Heart and Heartbeat in “His Two Great Commands”: The first and greatest command: “LOVE GOD with all your heart, soul, and mind.” With the title “greatest command”, comes the assumption that a BELIEVERS GREATEST SIN is to NOT LOVE GOD with their HEART, SOUL and MIND. The command is straightforward. How to love God this way, another question.

In the very same breath, God pinpointed His second greatest command: “LOVE OTHERS as much as we love ourselves”. This identifies man’s second greatest sin; to NOT ‘LOVE OTHERS’ as much as we love ourselves.

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True story: A while back I was with a group of Christian friends, 'fellowshiping' (whatever that may mean today) for 3-4 hours. During this time of ‘fellowship’, we talked about everything and anything from Obama to sports, families, jobs, vacations, and almost everything, ad-nasieum --- everything that is --- except Jesus and His "Kingdom stuff".

Akin to the feelings of Jeremiah, I felt I could hold my tongue no longer: “His Name…was in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones: And I am weary of holding it in…” (20:9).

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Part I: Jesus, through His brother James, begs believers: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse yourself you double minded…and set your hearts apart for God only. Humble yourselves before your God, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:7-10)  

As believers, not exactly sure of what it means, we’re all to one degree or another, convicted of our need to draw closer to Jesus. Sometimes however, that God-revelation doesn’t get completely through, until we’ve experienced a great variety of struggles, huge disappointments, pronounced sorrows, and/or numerous dead-ends. However, like me, most of us eventually are confronted by a moment in time, where weary and tired of going it on our own, were shaken awake to the fact that we not only NEED More of God in our life, but MUST HAVE More of God – More than we’ve ever had before. It’s then, in desperation, we turn to Him for help and deliverance from all our trials and sorrows.   

It’s in these tumultuous times we sense a need to know Him not only as our Creator, Savior and Master, but also discover a spark of desire in our souls to know Him more intimately than ever before. In my book, Journey to More, I’ve chronicled my own personal quest to know Jesus more intimately. It’s become a passion to know Him more intimately than I’ve ever known anyone or anything else in life.

Like the apostle Paul, my quest is to know Him not only as my Merciful and Wonderful Savior (Phil. 3:9), but also to “… know Him , and experience the power of His resurrection, share in His sufferings, and be like Him in His death” (Phil. 3:10).

Tiffne Whitley describes her ache for More of Jesus as follows:

“Someday Jesus will call my name;

From day to day I hope I won’t stay the same.

I want to get so close to Him, that it’s no big change; 

On that day that Jesus calls my name.”

Isaiah expressed his search for More of God’s Presence this way:

“It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look – he eats;

But he awakes, and his soul is empty;

Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look – he drinks;

But he quakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves more;

So the multitude of all nations shall be;

Who fight against the Presence of the Lord their God.” (Isa. 29:8 LSV)        

Jesus opined: “Come unto me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your weary souls” (Mt. 11:28-29).

In Part II, we’ll dive deeper into how you can personally experience More of Jesus’ realized Presence and His perfect Peace (Isa. 26:3), and discover a deeper relationship with Him than you ever dreamed possible.

In the meantime, talk with your Abba Father, let Him know that you want More of Him in your life, and ask Him to open wide the eyes and ears of your soul to His Still Small Voice.

By the way, He wants far more FOR you, than you want FROM Him.

See you next time, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek More of Jesus’ Beautiful Face.

Lee Stanford

Direct contact: leestan1@bellsouth.net

Web: www.JourneyToMore.net