Longing For More

LONGING
FOR
MORE
7
daily reections
on nding God
in the rhythms of life
timothy willard
(Unpublished manuscriptcopyright protected Baker Publishing Group)
Willard_LongingForMore_JB_wo.indd 5 9/2/14 9:19 AM
Timothy Willard, Longing for More
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2014. Used by permission.
2014 by Flickermail, LLC
Published by Bethany House Publishers
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Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Willard, Timothy D.
Longing for more : daily reections on nding God in the rhythms of life /
Timothy Willard.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
Summary: Thoughtful daily reections on how to live a passionate faith
amidst everyday life, infused with timeless wisdom from historic Christians
Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-7642-1205-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Devotional literature. 2. Spiritual lifeChristianityMeditations.
3. Christian lifeMeditations. I. Title.
BV4832.3.W53 2014
242.2dc23 2014018232
Unless otherwise identied, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations identied are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.
NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations identied T M are from The Message by Eugene H. Peter-
son, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress
Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identied are from the NET BIBLE, copyright 2003 by
Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identied are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identied are from the New American Standard Bible,
copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lock-
man Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations identied are from the New King James Version. Copyright
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identied are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Cover design by Brand Navigation
Author is represented by Christopher Ferebee
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Whitie,
my father and friend.
Your silent pursuit of Christ hastened mine.
You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat.
So I did sit and eat.
1
George Herbert
9
Contents
God Rhythms 13
WEEK 1 Joy 19
WEEK 2 Love 25
WEEK 3 Newness 32
WEEK 4 Thirst 38
WEEK 5 Hope 44
WEEK 6 Confession 50
WEEK 7 Courage 55
WEEK 8 Work 61
WEEK 9 Silence 67
WEEK 10 Light 74
WEEK 11 Trust 79
The Long Pause
WEEK 12 I Want to Be Human 84
10
Contents
WEEK 13 Intimacy 89
WEEK 14 Anxiety 95
WEEK 15 Surrender 100
WEEK 16 Humility 106
WEEK 17 Mystery 110
WEEK 18 Devotion 116
WEEK 19 Family 122
WEEK 20 Kindness 128
WEEK 21 Gentleness 133
WEEK 22 Faithfulness 138
WEEK 23 Leadership 144
The Long Pause
WEEK 24 God of the Ridiculous 151
WEEK 25 Prayer 155
WEEK 26 Holy 161
WEEK 27 Romance 166
WEEK 28 Worth 172
WEEK 29 Wonder 177
WEEK 30 Worship 183
WEEK 31 Longing 189
WEEK 32 Forgiveness 196
WEEK 33 Imagination 201
WEEK 34 Pain 208
WEEK 35 Unity 215
Contents
11
The Long Pause
WEEK 36 Christ, Our Delight 221
WEEK 37 Identity 226
WEEK 38 Dragons 232
WEEK 39 Disappointment 238
WEEK 40 Shame 244
WEEK 41 Strength 251
WEEK 42 Passion 257
WEEK 43 Calling 263
WEEK 44 Beauty 269
WEEK 45 Eclipse 276
WEEK 46 Anticipation 283
WEEK 47 Heights 289
The Long Pause
WEEK 48 The Color Green 295
WEEK 49 Jesus 300
WEEK 50 Everlasting 307
WEEKS 51 & 52 Heavenly Peace and the Family of God:
A Special Christmas Postscript 313
Acknowledgments 321
Notes 323
Even Deeper 331
About the Author 333
13
God Rhythms
I
wrote this book over the course of two years. It began in the
form of private emails to the fellows of Praxis, an entrepre-
neurial incubator program for founders of social justice organi-
zations. In my service to the fellows, I wrote weekly devotional
emails crafted to inspire, challenge, and engender transparency
among those in the program. I wanted the writing to reect
the rhythms of daily life but also point to the heavens, to God.
I enjoyed exploring these God rhythms so much that I
continued to send the emails even after the fellows completed
the program; the little pieces enhanced my own times of quiet
study and prayer with the Lord Jesus as well. And so, nearly
two years later, I am not nishing per se, but bottling them all
up for you, expanding some and shortening others.
Why God rhythms? Because life is anything but formulaic.
Though I try to implement systems to help organize my time
and relationships, these life buckets tend to mix and gel, clash
and explode. I experience life like you do, in the whirlwind of
realitys rhythms.
14
God Rhythms
But I do not despair in the whirlwind. Instead, I look to its
creator, the author of life, the poet of the universe who holds
the ebbing and owing of life like a valley holds its rivers and
streams and trees: in the beautiful cadence of balance. The
storms interrupt, the rains nourish, the sunlight quickens, the
res purge, and the seasons create a cycle of anticipation. We
are always looking to the dafodils, to the picnics, to the harvest
parties, to the Christmas trees.
Though we each pass through the same stages of life, our
experiences are quite diferent and yet mysteriously the same.
My sisters nished college in four years, but it took me four-
teen years, after taking nearly a decade of to pursue music in a
band. Our life rhythms, though intermingled, beamed a unique
beautysame, yet diferent.
How does God weave himself into your life? Does he ofer
you a list of guidelines to help you from Point A to Point B?
Or does he tangle himself into you with a cadence unique to
you and specic to him? Everyone who has lived knows life is
more like a tangle of rhythmsfugue-likepainful at times,
painfully wonderful at others.
Seeking Cadence
The format of this book reects my own interaction with the
Scriptures: focusing on a passage, singling out a verse, reect-
ing on what the Word is saying and how I can apply it to my
life. But do not look for little application points. At times the
reection will not button up nicely, which is quite ne with me.
The spiritual life does not turn on and of each day. Rather, it
ebbs and ows in a rhythmic dance. Some days I wake up angry
for no reasonI need Christ, and quickly! But I do not always
nd answers. I do, however, nd comfort. Sometimes I even pray
the same prayer each day: Lord Jesus, give me strength for this
day! Repetition and rhythmthis is our collective everyday.
God Rhythms
15
As you will see, I have divided this book into Weeks. Though
the overall layout of the weeks generally aligns with the church
calendar, starting in January, you can really begin reading any
time of the year. Whether you purchase the book midyear, or
just want to jump around to topics youd like to explore at cer-
tain times, the structure is there to suit your needs. Each week
includes a writing for each working day, totaling ve days. The
weekends, I leave to you. I know my rhythm changes on most
weekends. I may ride my mountain bike as my quiet time or
Sabbath with my family, simply enjoying one another; and to
me, this is the deepest part of my worship. You will notice I
ofer Day 3 as simply a prayer day in that I do not provide you
with a verse and a reection. Instead, I have written reective
prayers. This reveals how I myself feel by Wednesday: in need
of nothing else but prayer and strength.
You will spend an entire week focusing on one topic, such as
joy or wonder. I hope this provides some continuity to the week
for you. I enjoy sitting on an idea or topic for more than just a day.
Every twelfth week I present what I call The Long Pause.
This is a longer piece written for you to reect on during the
week. I have included a brief reection section with these pieces
so that you can be thinking about it the whole week, and maybe
even discuss it with a friend or small group. Take advantage
of the Long Pause and incorporate a similar pause into your
schedulechange things up, evaluate what is working person-
ally or professionally or scholastically for you, unplug for some
real time of the grid.
The nal two weeks of the year I have left of. Instead, I have
included a longer piece as a reection for the Christmas/New
Year holidays. I know many people take vacation during this
time, meeting with friends and family, so I wanted to reect
this rhythm in the book. Remember, dont feel pushed into a
structure that isnt working for you. If you want to read a more
seasonal reection in July, then by all means! Take these last two
16
God Rhythms
weeks to reect on this piece included and also on your spiritual
goals for next year. And, please, spend time with those who love
youthat is what makes this time of year so special.
The Fingerprints of Me
Throughout I have included quotes from some of my favorite
writers: many theologians, some ction authors, and some poets.
I have deliberately not gone shing for a good quote, so as
not to have so many quotes from so many authors that your
head spins. The quotes you will encounter emerge from my own
study and are top of mind for me as I consider a topic or verse.
I do not spend time in a myriad of writers for my quiet time.
I have a handful I nd helpful, inspiring, and challenging. You
will discover my favorites with ease. I do not apologize for the
likes of C. S. Lewis and Sren Kierkegaard popping up every-
where. In my opinion, we need to mine the greats. You could
spend two years digging into Kierkegaards beautiful Works of
Love. Also, please keep in mind that at the time of the writing
I was knee-deep reading for a doctorate in theology, studying
beauty in the works of C. S. Lewis.
A Journey Together
Finally, I encourage you to pray before each reading. Be careful
not to approach this little devotional book as the Word itself
that is to say, do not use it as a replacement for quality time in
the Scriptures. This collection merely contains my reections
on the God rhythms I experience in my life. Use them to supple-
ment your own study, your own time of quiet, and your own
prayer time.
It humbles me to think of you picking up this book to use
as an aid in cultivating your spiritual life. I realize your time is
precious, and I look forward to spending it with you.
God Rhythms
17
I have prayed for you as I have written these short pieces. I
think of myself as your brother in Christ, and I have tried to
write in the same way I would write a note or discuss some-
thing with my esh-and-blood brothers and sisters around the
bonrehonest and moody, yet always looking toward the stars.
And there he is among the blinking light of night, our Star
Whispererthe remnants of his words still lingering in their
shimmer: Let there be light. When I stand around the re, I am
reminded that each day carries enough of its own problems.
My worry and anxiety help nothing. There, under the shim-
mering, the day melts away and only the transcendence of the
night remains. That transcendence is God and his Wordour
shield, our hope, and our light.
The re crackles, the sparks drift upward, and as I relax my
mind, my heart opens once again. I am caught, longing for more.
Timothy D. Willard
Oxford, England
19
WEEK
Joy
DAY Aching for Heaven
So if youre serious about living this new resurrection life with
Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.
Dont shufe along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things
right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on
around Christthats where the action is. See things from his
perspective.
Colossians 3:12 T M
A
friend of mine once told me, I nd myself aching for
heaven more these days. What a striking thought.
This morning I woke up far from heaven. You know this kind
of morning? When you pass from bed to the shower to the cofee
press, numb and overcome? I dont have down days often, but this
morning I found myself spinning into a dark place lled with self-
pity and anxiety. No thoughts of heaven, only thoughts of Tim.
How do you recalibrate on a morning like this? Moneys tight,
the joy of work replaced by drudgery, relationships seemingly
Longing for More
20
splintered. How do you gain a foothold in order to climb from
the pit?
That was me this morning, shufing along with my eyes to
the ground, absorbed with all the things right in front of me.
Then I poured some cofee, closed my eyes, and listened to a
favorite song. With my eyelids shut, my vision returned as I
considered the apostle Pauls call to look up.
One, two, three . . . ready or not! My daughters laughing
in the downstairs halls. The sizzle and aroma of the salsa for my
breakfast burrito. The growing tummy of my pregnant wife, the
mystery of lifefrom lifeand its glow emanating from her face.
Tiny life episodes like these spark daily for each of us, send-
ing time on its way as we each grow along its line. Look up,
and be alert to what is going on around Christ. . . . See things
from his perspective.
Todays Prayer
Lord Jesus, am I living in the joy of my work? Am I living
in the joy of my family and friends? Or am I too caught
up with the hubbub to notice?
DAY Lilies and Birds
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their
grain and wine abound.
Psalm 4:7
I
think joy carries a sound, one like the sounds or language of
heaven. And hidden within or beyond that sound is the place
where I long to be, the thing I long to possess. Kierkegaard
talks about that sound in the form of a song in his beautiful
essay The Lily in the Field, the Bird of the Air:
Joy
21
What joy when the day dawns and the birds awaken early to the
joy of the day; what joy, although tuned to another key, when
the evening draws near and the birds hasten joyously home to
their nests; and what joy all the long summer day!
What joy when the birdwho does not merely sing at his
work like a joyous laborer, but whose essential work it is to
singjoyfully begins its song; what new joy when there upon
its neighbor begins, and then its opposite neighbor; and when
then the whole chorus joins in, what joy; and when at last it is
like a sea of tones to which forest and vale, heaven and earth,
respond, a sea of tones in which he who struck the rst note
now tumbles head over heels with joywhat joy!
1
Im now a whole day and six hundred words from my dark
and splintered spiral of a morning (see yesterdays entry). And
I can hear a new song now. It sounds nothing like my pity party,
it sounds like heavenlike the joy of birds. Can you hear it?
If you cant, take a moment and look up. What do you see?
A ceiling? Clouds? Open blue? Now close your eyes and allow
your heart to look uptoward the things of Christ. What are
those things right now in your everyday? A co-worker in need of
encouragement? A family member who needs prayer? A neighbor
who needs help?
Our daily posture toward God reects in our posture toward
those we interact with and care most about in the everyday. In
order to hear the joy of birds we must daily assume a life posture
of prayerprayer-like breathing. A simple, short prayer that
you repeat throughout the day can become a great weapon as
you war through the anxious thoughts and notions that seek
to steal your joy.
Todays Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are my joy. You are my joy, and you ll
my heart.
Longing for More
22
DAY Clear My Soul
Todays Prayer
Thanks to Thee, O God, that I have risen to-day,
To the rising of this life itself;
May it be to Thine own glory, O God of every gift,
And to the glory of my soul likewise.
O great God, aid Thou my soul
With the aiding of Thine own mercy;
Even as I clothe my body with wool,
Cover Thou my soul with the shadow of Thy wing.
Help me to avoid every sin,
And the source of every sin to forsake;
And as the mist scatters on the crest of the hills,
May each ill haze clear from my soul, O God.
2
DAY Beauty Unexpected
For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with
the joy of your presence.
Psalm 21:6
S
ometimes beauty comes to us unexpectedly in the quiet cor-
ners of the day.
The interruption of pouring rain outside your window. Watch-
ing a chipmunk scale your blueberry bush, stealing away with
the blue treasure. Hearing a song that used to be one of your
favorites, from a diferent time, a diferent life. Overhearing your
daughter discover the moon while the sun still shines.
The unexpected. The interruptions.
Joy
23
And there, in the quiet corner of your day, God nds you.
There he wraps you in his whispers: Blessed are you . . . blessed
are you.
You, the blessed one. You, the happy one.
Be on the lookout for unexpected beauty. Be aware of the
interruptions accompanied by beauty. Its here we nd the joy
of birds. Its here we nd that God is not only aware of us but
actively wooing us. For the interruptions are mere signposts
beautiful placards of joy pointed directly at the One who loves us.
Todays Prayer
Lord Jesus, may your beauty come to me in the moment
I need it most. Your compassions are new every morning.
Bless me with your interruptions.
DAY Children of the Wind
May the God of hope ll you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
W
e cannot conceive of a world where belief in God does
not exist. And yet were often content to live like our
belief is not so. What do our contradictory actions do to our
belief? Do they perform irreparable damage, ruining the faith
we claim?
Perhaps. For faith does not consist of mere intellectual assent.
One does not claim faith and explicit belief in God and then
go on his merry way. On the contrary, when we face God and
believe, we live forever changed, body and soul. We experience
a holy renaissance; we are born again and live life as children
of God. Faith is not merely a claim, it is a way of life.
Longing for More
24
In John the Beloveds gospel account, we read that anyone
born of the Spirit lives life resembling the wind; a life blow-
ing where it pleases, a life that bears a mysteriously beautiful
sound (3:8).
We are children of the Wind!
And yet we live walled up, keeping the bufer of nonchalance
between our true identity and us.
When you believe in God, when you believe in what his Son,
Christ Jesus, did upon the cross, you become in essence what
you believe. You claim Christ and live in him. Thats what it
means to become a childyou bear the ngerprint, the soul-
print, of your parent.
What will this year hold for us, the children of the Wind?
Will we ll the sails of our faith, navigating the tumultuous
waters of the unknown? Or will we content ourselves in the safe
places of the calm and predictable? Will we allow our culture
to dictate our identity? Or will we rise above and transcend like
our glorious Fatherthe Abba of our faith?
Todays Prayer
Lord Jesus, let us remember Pauls words and not forget
the past, to press on toward the goal of our faithChrist
himself, our claim and our life!
Grant us the wisdom to discern what it means to press
into this heavenly goal within our immediate contexts: how
our belief translates to how we love our spouses, raise our
children, operate our businesses, and chase our dreams.
Let us not give in to a culture of cynicism and noncha-
lance, but recapture the romance, glory, and joy of our
faithbelief that ies us home, belief that sails us into
the beyond.

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