August 23
The Longing That Comes Before Faith
Every story of coming to Christ starts long before the moment of conversion: a restlessness, a hunger for meaning, a desire to be forgiven, a longing for connection, a feeling that “there must be more,” and an ache that nothing in this world can satisfy.
Where does this come from? Not from us. Not from our goodness. Not from our spiritual maturity. It originates from the Spirit’s whisper inside the human heart: “You were made for the Father. Come home.”
Even before we awaken to God, God is already stirring something within us. As Paul said on Mars Hill, “We are His offspring.” (Acts 17:28) The Spirit was moving in a city full of idols long before the gospel arrived.
This is the mystery of grace: God starts the journey before we even realize there is one.
A Love Beyond Measure: Pages 10-11
Every story of coming to Christ starts long before the moment of conversion: a restlessness, a hunger for meaning, a desire to be forgiven, a longing for connection, a feeling that “there must be more,” and an ache that nothing in this world can satisfy.
Where does this come from? Not from us. Not from our goodness. Not from our spiritual maturity. It originates from the Spirit’s whisper inside the human heart: “You were made for the Father. Come home.”
Even before we awaken to God, God is already stirring something within us. As Paul said on Mars Hill, “We are His offspring.” (Acts 17:28) The Spirit was moving in a city full of idols long before the gospel arrived.
This is the mystery of grace: God starts the journey before we even realize there is one.
A Love Beyond Measure: Pages 10-11