Seven Longings of the Human Heart

by Mike Bickle, Deborah Hiebert

God created every person with deep longings that only He can fill. We all long for beauty, for greatness, for fascination, for intimacy. We all long to be enjoyed, to be wholehearted, to make a lasting impact. When we realize that these longings are godly and that God wants to fulfill them, we begin to find new freedom and joy. To encounter God in these areas is to be fully alive. We are not to repent of these longings, but to repent of seeking to satisfy them outside of our relationship with Jesus. [Updated cover, 2017]

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian Living

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Mike Bickle is the director of the International House of Prayer Missions Base of Kansas City, an evangelical missions organization based on 24/7 prayer with worship that is engaged in many evangelistic and inner city outreaches along with multiple justice initiatives, planting houses of prayer, and training missionaries.

The International House of Prayer has continued in non-stop prayer led by worship teams since September 19,1999, and is committed to combining 24/7 prayers for justice with 24/7 works of justice. Around 1,500 people (staff members, students, interns) serve full-time on the missions base, investing fifty hours per week in the prayer room, classroom, and ministry outreaches. Mike is also the founder of the International House of Prayer University which includes a full-time Bible school, music school, and media school.

Reviews

[Mary Rose Relente · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you trace where the water of the Pacific Ocean come from? or of the Indian Ocean? I hardly can.

Life is like an ocean of longings. We know it's there but we do not know exactly how the water flows to-and-fro and where it actually comes from. Thus, we long and look to be filled only to find ourselves empty. Life's unpredictability has left us wondering and wandering because we look to the wrong places and chase other people who are broken themselves.

That's how I saw my life before I've read this book.

The longings of the human heart are not meant to bring us headache and heartache. They draw us closer to One who placed them Himself within us. These longings are a beautiful part of life when fulfilled by the One who desires them for us.

"You will find what you are looking for when you realize God has placed those longings in your heart as a divine desire; your hunger is a gift from God to draw you to Him. It's a holy want with a holy fulfillment. Everything you really need and want is offered by and found in Him." -Mike Bickle

[Carla Parreira]

Melhores trechos: "...Poucas palavras na língua portuguesa podem expressar tal profundidade de emoção em apenas três sílabas. Um desejo não é uma vontade superficial que pode ser satisfeita com um simples ato de gentileza. Um desejo nem sequer é uma necessidade genuína que possamos exigir que seja atendida. Um desejo vai além dessas coisas. Ele é uma dor no coração. É um buraco no espírito que clama por preenchimento. Em seu sentido mais profundo, essa palavra não é nem um verbo nem um substantivo em si mesma, mas combina ambas as classificações, sendo a própria conexão entre emoção e necessidade genuína. É um sentimento intangível, que vem e vai como uma maré e ao mesmo tempo é uma realidade concreta. Não se pode racionalizar com um desejo, muito menos negálo ou descartá-lo. Se ele não for atendido, ele nos domina. De uma forma ou de outra, legítima ou ilegitimamente, um desejo humano será satisfeito. Ele tem de ser satisfeito. Esses desejos são universais e nos dão uma compreensão melhor sobre como Deus nos fez. Temos anseios propositadamente cavados em nosso espírito como parte integral de nosso design divino. Esses anseios revelam o gênio do Criador, que foi quem colocou os anseios em nós para refletir Sua própria personalidade e nos guiar até Ele - na verdade, de volta para Ele. Somos feitos à Sua imagem e Ele intencionalmente plantou desejos nas profundezas do nosso coração que somente Ele pode preencher. Ele nos programou para que precisemos, queiramos e para que encontremos nossa satisfação n’Ele e somente n’Ele... Comece a imaginar como seria ter esses desejos completamente saciados; como seria se você acordasse um dia e se visse totalmente completo e inteiramente realizado; como seria se, de repente, todas as suas necessidades fossem atendidas, quem você seria? Torço para que você responda que você seria a pessoa que foi criada para ser, uma pessoa com raízes firmemente fincadas no amor incompreensível de Cristo, cheia de paixão santa por Deus e profundamente satisfeita pela paixão ardente que Ele sente por você... O problema não está no desejo em si, mas na tentativa de satisfazê-lo de uma forma errada – o que nos causa frustração, por consequência... Os sete desejos que identifiquei são: o desejo de termos a certeza que somos apreciados por Deus, o desejo de sermos fascinados, o desejo de sermos belos, o desejo por algo grandioso, o desejo por ter intimidade sem ter do que se envergonhar, o desejo de entregar-se completamente em devoção e paixão e o desejo de fazer algo que tenha impacto profundo e duradouro. Compreender esses desejos é compreender melhor nossas batalhas e o verdadeiro sentido da vida. Eles são anseios postos em nós por Deus estrategicamente e eles nos atraem à Sua presença... Não devemos nos arrepender de termos esse desejo pela grandeza dado por Deus, somente devemos nos arrepender de buscar satisfazê-lo com a motivação errada..."

[rebecca ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hard to rate this book because there were many thought provoking statements but a lot I couldn’t get on board with. The idea of the longings were good for the most part. The reason I’m not giving this book more stars is because there are a lot of assumptions and statements that don’t seem to have biblical backing. I definitely have some theological concerns.

[Eszter Beáta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains some new ideas about the way how we react and think about the life and why our essential longings come from God and what was his goal with them.

Ez a könyv új ötleteket tartalmaz arról, ahogy gondolkodunk és reagálunk az életre, valamint arról, hogy a mi alapvető vágyaink Istentől származnak, és mi volt Neki ezekkel a terve.

[Jamie Croff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has shaped the way I view my relationship with Jesus now and into eternity.

[Austin Kettle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful classification of longings and much that is thought provoking. Plenty of assumptions and doctrinal issues to disagree with, but a interesting read.

[Melissa Omolo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anything I do here on earth, has eternal consequences.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the contents of this book are quite revelatory. I recommend that everyone reads it at least once.

[Bryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Bickle. Love! Love! Love!

[Danielle Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

We long but why? Generally we all have the same longings but some are stronger than others. The question is why does humanity long for things? What is this life about anyway and how are we to live it?

This book explains the nature of longing. It also lays a foundation ofseven different longings to the human soul: The Longing to be enjoyed, to be fascinated,for beauty, greatness, intimacy without shame, to be wholehearted, and to make a lasting impact! Does anyone want to have or do those things...then go for it pick it up!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book ministered to my heart at this time in my life. The style of writing was very forthright. There was not that much from Debrah Heibert to acknowledge a female cowriter...I would like to see more, or less of this way of filling a page.

[Jason Waisanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Bickle is a man that is after Gods own heart. He continually preaches the intimate relationship that we, as Christians need. He helps give us the necessary thought process to bring us closer to he Almighty.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being recommended this book from a fellow student peer in my dorm room. The basic consensus among the longings of the heart is the need for connection. Overall good, but not every memorable.

[Geoanth]

its a wonderful book for us a special creation of GOD who has a great plan and purpose for the glory of GOD......

[Stephanie Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about my heart condition. This book gave me the desire to alter my thoughts to line up with God's thought!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, yet deeply profound. I love this book. It helps me to understand why I think and feel the way I do!

[Danielle Freitag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommended in understanding self related to God given desires

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book! Very deep.