what a man desires

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-9

The Word of God says this about the emotional needs of all human beings: “What is desired in a man is steadfast love” (Proverbs 19:22). This verse encapsulates what we long for most. Lavish love. Focused love. Radical love. Love we can count on. The taxicab driver, the plumber, the stockbroker, the runway model, the prostitute, the drug pusher, the school teacher, the computer programmer, and the president all yearn for the same thing—unfailing love.

Proverbs 20:6 says, “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” Paul described agape love as a supernatural love that only God fully possesses and only God can give. It's the New Testament word for God-love just as chesed is the Old Testament word for God-love. The only way we can love with agape is to pour out everything else from our hearts and ask God to make them pitchers of his agape. Before we can begin to give God-love away, we need to accept it. God loves you with a perfect love, and “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

Have you ever feared that someone would stop loving you? Not only have I feared it, I've experienced it! God has carefully and graciously allowed some of my fears to come true so that I would discover that I would not disintegrate. God taught me to survive on his unfailing love. It wasn't fun, but it was transforming.

The only thing I absolutely could not survive is the loss of God's love, and that is a loss I will never have to endure. His love “endures forever.” (See Psalm 136.) That's what he meant by “perfect love” driving out fear. The Word of God uses the phrase “steadfast love” numerous times, and not once is it attributed to humans. Every single use of the phrase refers to God and God alone.

Though the love that others extend may be lavish—only God's love is unfailing. —Beth Moore bethmoore.org

seeking: Lord, how has your agape love touched me today? What words of love will I express to you?

responding: Do I truly believe that my innermost desire is steadfast love? What other things have I tried to satisfy that need? • How has God shown me that only his love is unfailing?

Lord, thank you for your unfailing love. I pray to fully accept it and allow it to drive out fear. Teach me that your everlasting love is all I really need. In Jesus' name, amen.

following: What a man desires is the steadfast love of God.

our journey