Let's be honest... sometimes we just don't feel like worshipping. We know we should, and we know it is our "one heart and one purpose" (Jer. 32:39), but often our hearts just aren't feeling it. Recently I was pondering this reality and asking the Lord what it is that positions our hearts in the place of truly desiring to worship.

He led me to Revelation 4 and 5, and I saw that in heaven they worship because they see God. It is the vision of His face – His glorious person – that causes their natural response to be eternal adoration.

The human heart has an innate longing for the face of God. Adam was created to live face to face with God. Even newborn babies turn their heads to see the face of their mom and dad.

In the Hebrew language, there is no word for “presence.” Every word we translate “presence” is the word “face.” When God told Moses, “My presence will go with you” (Ex. 33:14), the literal translation is, “My face will go with you.” The presence of God is the face of God, and to pursue His presence is to pursue His face.

Job speaks of the longing we have in our hearts for His face: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth... I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself ... how my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25-27).

We were created to behold the face of God. That doesn't mean we have to have a vision or a face-to-face encounter, although those are wonderful and to be treasured. But we can live in a constant pursuit of His face and presence, and our hearts can see Him every moment of every day.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matt. 5:8). When our hearts and lives are given completely to Jesus, without mixture or compromise, we are promised the fulfillment of our greatest desire: to live face to face with God.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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