Passion after God is not merely an emotion; it is a persistent longing for God Himself that shapes our thoughts, our actions, and the direction of our lives. It is living the reality of the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
This command is not presented as an option but as the core of our relationship with God. It is the standard by which all other loves and pursuits are measured. To have passion after God means to recognise His worth above all else, to desire His presence more than life itself, and to find our greatest joy and fulfilment in Him.
In the scripture there are men and women whose lives bore the mark of such passion. David, the shepherd-king of Israel, stands out among them. Though he was a man of many faults, what distinguished David was not perfection, but his relentless pursuit of God. In Psalm 42:1-2, he writes, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
These words do not reflect a casual or routine relationship with God. They are the desperate cry of a soul that has tasted the goodness of God and cannot settle for anything less. Throughout his life, whether in the wilderness running away from Saul or on the throne of Israel, David’s primary longing was always for God Himself.
Even when he sinned grievously, his repentance was marked by longing for his intimacy with God to be restored: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:10-12). David’s passion was rooted in his lived experience with God.
The Apostle Paul was another person of faith, who shared a striking testimony of passion after God. Prior to his conversion, Paul was passionate about religious tradition and personal accomplishment, but an encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus transformed the direction of his passion.
Speaking of his former life, he says in Philippians 3:7-10, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him… I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
Paul’s passion for God was all-consuming; it reordered his priorities, ambitions, and the very purpose of his life. Paul did not see his old achievements as bad in themselves, but compared to knowing Christ, they became meaningless. His life became a relentless pursuit of deeper intimacy with God, and this passion sustained him through persecution, hardship, and even imprisonment.
The idea of passion after God is not limited to the giants of faith. In fact, it is the calling of every believer. The words of Jesus in Revelation 3:15-16 stand as a solemn warning to the church in Laodicea and to us: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! Therefore, you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
God desires hearts that are ablaze for Him, not souls content with mediocrity or mere religious routine. Passion after God is a sign of spiritual life and health; when it is absent, spiritual apathy takes root, leaving us vulnerable to distraction, discouragement, and decline. True passion after God is fundamentally relational. It is about loving a person, God Himself, and not just a set of doctrines or religious practices.
God is not looking for people who merely obey Him out of obligation or fear; He seeks those who delight in Him, whose hearts are captivated by His beauty, holiness, and love. The psalmist declares in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Such desire is the essence of passion after God.
Throughout church history, countless believers have embodied this passion in remarkable ways. Missionaries like David Livingstone, who spent decades in Africa despite sickness and hardship, or Amy Carmichael, who rescued children from temple prostitution in India, were driven not by duty alone but by burning love for God.
They gave up comfort, reputation, and even safety because their hearts were captivated by the One who first loved them. Their stories inspire us to examine our lives: what are we most passionate about? Do we hunger for God like David, or do we settle for spiritual crumbs while gorging ourselves on the world’s distractions?
NURTURING OUR PASSION FOR GOD!
While passion after God may begin with a spiritual awakening or a moment of deep encounter, it must be cultivated and sustained through intentional practices and choices. One of the most vital ways to nurture passion is through intimacy in prayer and worship. Prayer is not just a religious obligation but a living conversation with God, our father, Redeemer, and Friend.
The more time we spend in God’s presence, honestly pouring out our hearts and listening to His voice, the more our passion for Him will grow. Psalm 16:11 promises, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Worship, whether through song, silence, or service, lifts our eyes from ourselves and reminds us of God’s surpassing greatness.
Meditation on the word of God (Scripture) to renew our minds can fill us with a renewed love for God and nurture our passion for God. Fellowship with other believers is also key, encouraging and supporting each other in our journey. These practices help us persevere when we feel weak or tempted to give up.
Obedience to God’s commands, fasting, and spiritual disciplines also play a role in rekindling passion for God. Real-life stories show how these practices help people trust God in difficult times and grow their passion for Him. Whether through worship music, prayer, or serving others, people find new purpose and joy in their relationship with God. While passion after God is a gift of the Holy Spirit, it also requires our cooperation.
There are real obstacles: apathy, idols, unconfessed sin, disappointment, and even spiritual fatigue. At times, we may feel spiritually distant from God. In these moments, the answer is not to condemn ourselves but to bring our condition honestly to God, asking Him to renew our hearts. David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). God delights to answer such prayers.
The fruit of passion after God brings deep and abiding joy. The psalmist writes, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). Nothing in this world can satisfy the soul like God Himself. Passion for God leads to transformation. As we behold Him, we are changed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Our desires, priorities, and actions begin to reflect His heart. Passion for God makes us effective witnesses. When others see our genuine love for God, they are drawn to the reality of Christ in us. The early believers were known not for their programs or buildings but for their undeniable love and zeal for Jesus.
Passion sustains us through suffering. When our hearts are set on God, we can endure trials, disappointments, and even persecution with hope and perseverance. Paul could testify, “None of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy” (Acts 20:24).
Passion after God is not reserved for a select few; it is the calling and privilege of every follower of Jesus. It is both the source and goal of the Christian life. If you find yourself longing for more, feeling the ache for deeper communion, know that this is God’s invitation to you. Draw near to Him, and He promises to draw near to you (James 4:8).
Return to your first love. Let prayer, worship, Scripture, fellowship with other believers and obedience become pathways for renewed intimacy. Ask the Holy Spirit to kindle a fresh fire in your heart. The journey may not always be easy, but the reward is more than worth it: to know, love, and enjoy God both now and forever.
As the psalmist declares in a final word of longing, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26). I decree and declare that this become the cry of our hearts, a passion after God that endures and overflows to the world around us in Jesus’ name (Amen)
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace.
