13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. 132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. 8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. 9 My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
“As humans, we have heads, and therefore must be given facts and evidences and arguments in order to make reasonable commitments. And we have hearts with longings and yearnings and hopes and fears and desires. Therefore, if someone urges me to commit myself to a certain goal, he must persuade my head that the goal is really there as he says it is; and he must move my heart to feel the value of attaining it.” John Piper
“Lord, when thou showest thyself, let me love thee; when my mountain stands strong, let me praise thee; when thou withdrawest thyself, let me follow thee; when thy countenance is hid, let me still believe that thou lovest me: under all my changes here, let my soul be always breathing, panting, longing, and reaching after thee, till I shall so perfectly enjoy thee, that I may never lose thee more Amen. Lord, guide me in this Christian race, and keep my mind intent on thee; rejoicing when I see thy face, and trusting when I cannot see.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“If there is anything in your life more than your longing after God, you will never be a Spirit-filled Christian.” A. W. Tozer
“The people of God are to model the new heaven and new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will bring to pass.” Philip Yancey
“How to be pure? By steadfast longing for the One good, that is, God.” Meister Eckhart
“.....dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.” Charles Wesley
“The human heart longs for utopia – some Shangri-La or Fountain of Youth that makes everything ‘right’ again. Somewhere deep inside is an impulse hungering for a place where wounds are healed, conflict is resolved, pressures cease, desires are fulfilled, and death doesn’t hang over our heads. The vestiges of Eden remain in our hearts; we know the world isn’t as it should be. We want something – or someone – to make it right. The theologically correct solution, from a Christian’s point of view, is that the Son of God will return and make all things new. And, in fact, He is already renewing those who believe in Him. But the re-genesis we look for, the gleaming paradise hidden in our longings, hasn’t fully appeared. We saw glimpses of it in Jesus’ earthly ministry – love, healings promises, restoration; we see it in in various lives and ministries today; and we see a picture of it at the end of Revelation. There’s one thing in common in all such pictures: His Presence. Whenever He manifests Himself openly, perfection begins to emerge....And in the end, we will see perfection and completion in all its fullness.” Chris Tiegreen
“All of us are waiting for something. It might be a spouse or a baby. It might be healing or a home. Regardless of what we're waiting for, it's easy to feel discontent when things aren't going as planned and our dreams are delayed- especially when questions of ‘Why?’ and ‘How long?' remain unanswered. God uses seasons of waiting to teach us patience and make us more like himself. But sanctification is not the only purpose God has in mind. When we wait faithfully with unmet longings, we become a powerful picture of the bride of Christ waiting for the day when he returns and God's kingdom reigns.” Betsy Childs Howard
“There is a hope that burns within my heart That gives me strength for every passing day A glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part Yet drives all doubt away I stand in Christ with sins forgiven And Christ in me the hope of heaven My highest calling and my deepest joy To make His will my home. There is a hope that lifts my weary head A consolation strong against despair That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit I find the Saviour there Through present sufferings future's fear He whispers courage in my ear For I am safe in everlasting arms And they will lead me home. There is a hope that stands the test of time That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave To see the matchless beauty of a day divine When I behold His face When sufferings cease and sorrows die And every longing satisfied Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul For I am truly home.” Stuart Townend
“The Hebrew word shalom is often translated ‘peace,’ but its full meaning has a deeper richness to it. Shalom is a sense of completeness and soundness and living well. It implies safety, good health, prosperity, tranquility, and contentment. Shalom means favor, fulfillment, restoration, harmony, and reconciliation. God is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace. Shalom meets the human heart's deepest longings and is the greatest measure of contentment. True shalom cannot exist in a heart that is void of Jesus Christ. Shalom cannot exist in a heart that is divided between a love of God and a love of the world. There is no room for peace in a heart that is harboring anxiety, distrust, greed, anger, or bitterness. The Messiah is referred to as the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. Although the text translates to ‘prince,’ the original meaning of the word embodies the power of the king. The prince here has the full authority, delegation, and dignity of the king. Only when the Prince of Peace rules in our hearts and minds can we have peace. Until we submit to His authority and power, our peace will be incomplete.” Michael Youssef
“What we are longing for, deep down inside, is not Christmas, but Christ; not merriment, but the Messiah; not goodwill, but God; not presents, but His presence in our lives. Anyone or anything short of that will disappoint.” Greg Laurie