One common thing I hear from Christians is how they struggle to have meaningful time meeting with God daily in His word. One of the most common struggles is that time with God gets crowded out by so many other things getting in the way stealing the time. But underneath the time struggle is a desire struggle. When we want something badly enough we will work hard enough to find a way to make it happen.
Another common struggle is a sense of emptiness or a lack of meaningful encounters with God. Often believers feel like there isn’t much benefit to them personally in meeting with God. Again, I think an underlying issue is a desire struggle. If there were a deeper desire for God and communion with Him the interaction with Him would be much more meaningful.
So the question becomes, “How can my desire for God and His word be increased?” I’d like to share with you a helpful aid I learned from Pastor John Piper to answer that question. He selected specific verses to memorize which call out to God to do something to open up his heart and increase his desire. He memorized those verses and would begin his devotional time each day quoting those verses as his prayer for God to stir his heart. Because of his encouragement I developed my own way of doing that and want to share it with you.
The verses I found helpful to me are arranged by the first letter in each verse to make out a statement, a prayer to God which helps me remember the verses and also helps me begin stirring my heart to desire God more. This is a good way to ask God to make you want to want Him each day. The statement these letters creates is this: I need U M O R (I U M O R). Here are the verses:
I – Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:36
U – Unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86:11
M – Make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
O – Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18
R – Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Psalm 51:12
Here’s how I use this. Each morning when I come to meet with God my level of desire may vary widely. Some days there’s more desire or motivation to think and feel deeply the things of God. Some days there’s little desire. So I begin by humbling myself before God expressing my need for Him to take action to stir my soul, mind, heart to want Him.
There is no better prayer to utter to God than His very own inspired words which He has given to us. You can know with absolute assurance these are prayers He loves to hear and to grant. Numerous times I have encountered God answering these requests and stirring a deepening desire within me for Him.
I hope this might be a blessing to you.
