How to desire to know God
1 – “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 – A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3 – A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4 – The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5 – Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6 – Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7 – They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8 – Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9 – They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10 – The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11 – And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12 – Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:” (Joel chapter 2 verses 1 to 12)
5 Phases in Joel chapter 2 verses 12
- Turn to the LORD: To come to the LORD, one must do that in repentance. The reason the bible is emphasising on retracing one step back to God is because there is backsliding that occurred in time past. Turning to the LORD is about making it right with the LORD. One gets to put old things behind and reconnect to God properly.
- With all your heart: No one can ever think of returning to the LORD without doing so with his or her whole heart. Once one heart is not fixed to turn completely to God, he or she cannot yield properly. One has to turn to God will everything that is within him or her. This is to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Laying down of one’s will for God’s will to prevail.
- And with fasting: This is the place one has to subject him or herself to the discipline of dealing with the flesh to bring it under control. This is the process one steps aside to seek to know God better. Fasting is a period set aside with God for a deeper relationship, deeper revelation, growing deeper and pleasing Him.
- And with weeping: This call for humility form oneself in sincerity of heart. This demands for total reverence and allegiance to God.
- And with mourning: This is the point one desires to know Him better. Desire to know His Will for one’s life; and totally sober to the leading of the LORD.
