It is absolutely necessary to actively yearn for God. One of the definitions of pant is to long with breathless or intense eagerness. We must be zealous for the worship and service of God. We must keep in mind that this zealousness must be accompanied with the knowledge of God (reference Rom 10:2). Part of longing is seeking God in His house. 

The Psalmist stated in Psalm 122:1 \'I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.\' The same Psalmist recognized that no matter the circumstance or the period in his life, his soul must be engaged in this pursuit of God. Psalm 119:20 \'My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.\' When we long for God, it also means we have a hope or trust in His promise. Psalm 119:81 states \'My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.\' It does not make any sense to long for God if you do not believe in an eventual positive result upon your life. Your faith in His promise thus must be unyielding. We must also be willing as we yearn for God to observe all His commandments - The Psalmist in 119:131 states \'I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.\' In yearning we must thus be expectant of the direction in which God chooses to lead us.

Finally, one of the beautiful things about longing for anything is the pleasure or contentment that is experienced when that longing is satisfied. Proverbs 13:19 \'A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul.’

I pray that all our fulfillments be sweet as we yearn for God and that all our meditations about Him are sweet in this year of 2008.

Amen

Shola Adepoju