‘It’s an irony that while we wait for the Lord to come and to meet with us, to visit us, to show Himself to this weary and wary pilgrim, there’s joy in the waiting. Lord, like David said, “I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Yes, I need to see more of God, but I must joy in what He has done already. You have done great things O my God. The fact that I have these restless stirrings is in itself a noblest gift from You; one to be cherished above all else that earth can give. I must not mourn without knowing how to rejoice. If I only mourn, then I shall become a dried up stick, and I won’t be a good example to anyone. If my disposition were always one of doom and dread, why would anyone choose to be my disciple and follow the way of the burning heart?

Jesus was concerned about the things of the Kingdom, and He was totally heavenly conscious and drew men into that celestial life that He called the Kingdom of Heaven. But He could never be considered drab and dry. He was alive and vibrant. He was full of God and full of joy and even when His heart broke again and again by the sins of man, He never remained in the state of constant sorrow. He moved on and engaged with man. Lord, this is the example I see in Your Son, the joyful suffering servant (which in itself is a sort of irony), yet, there He was giving life, healing many, feeding multitudes, blessing souls. He was always full of vibrancy and exuberance. Lord, that’s the life I so much want to live. Not drab living but a joyful, vibrant God-glorifying life, while still searching and seeking for more encounters with, and experiences of, the heavenly city. Please help me Lord find the balance of this dual yet singular lifestyle. You did it. So help me do it too, Lord. This I ask, in Your holy name. Amen.’