January 25 – Yearning Again for God

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV) 

There is a word in our verse today that is infrequently used in the meaning the psalmist used it. A deer “pants” for flowing streams. The image is of a desperately thirsty deer in need of clean moving water. We might say the deer longs for a drink when it’s thirsty and it looks for a nice cool stream of water because of past experiences. The deer has learned how good it is to drink from a clear stream. The deer’s thirst has been satisfied that way and now it longs for that to be repeated when it’s thirsty. When our souls have been satisfied by close contact with God we, too, will long to repeat this experience over and over again. Our promise is that satisfaction happens when we appear before God, We know from past experience and our inner being longs for more. It is only God who can give us that full satisfaction – and that is why we seek it only from Him and not from world around us. Tempted to look elsewhere, by experience we’ve learned that God is the one who fulfills the promises. Let's seek Him today.

193

September 13 – Constantly Seeking

“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (NASB)

Today, maybe you can relate to the words of David in Psalm 63.  We sometimes find ourselves in a spiritually dry and thirsty place. All we want and all we yearn for is something to quench our thirst. But we are in a place where there is no water.  David was in the desert of Judah and was also physically thirsty and relates it to his spiritual thirst. He knew to whom to turn when he was in this state of mind. God had provided refreshment in the past and David knew that he would again. That is why he declares God as his God and earnestly wanted more of God in his life. His desire was like a strong thirst.  This is our promise too.  We can believe this if we will. We can know that God has promised to provide whatever we need when we call on Him. Ask our Father in the name of His Son, our Lord and Savior, and He will give it to us. We recall how we have seen and experienced God’s provision for us and how he loves us and takes pleasure in giving us what we need when we call. 

- 199 -

June 24 – Thirsty for More?

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”  -Isaiah 55:1  (ESV)

This passage is not the only one in Scriptures that likens the blessings of God to the refreshment and renewing power of clear, clean water.  This was the passage which Jesus alluded to in John 7:37-38 as he was declaring Himself to be the Messiah.  And just as Jesus was inviting the people in need to come to Him for eternal life, in Isaiah God invites the people in need to come.  Four times this word ‘come’ occurs.  By coming to God, the people submit to trusting in and relying on Him for their needs. Come all you who thirst to the waters.  Those who have no resources, come and buy and eat as if you do. The blessings God offers are available without cost.  That is a good thing because we have nothing to exchange, for we are bankrupt spiritually with empty pockets to offer for our salvation.  Salvation now is our prime need and only God makes it available. There is nothing we can do. Throughout history, people have tried to find satisfaction on their own through their own strategies.  God is the only one who provides what we need at His cost, not ours.

-197-

September 14 – Bread and Water

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”  Revelation 22:17 (ESV)

We find many invitations in the Bible. They tell of the many blessings which God offers to those who accept His invitation. This verse is an invitation that has been good since even before the day it was written. While still on the earth before his death and resurrection Jesus had offered  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." (John 7:37 (ESV))  This offer and many others were why Jesus came into our world as a human.  In just the chapter before (John 6:35 (ESV)) Jesus offered himself as the Bread of Life. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger,”  His ministry was to offer Kingdom of God to all. There has always been the opportunity to satisfy the deepest longings of our souls.  That has always been the great desire of our Lord – to satisfy the thirsty soul. And He promises satisfaction and offers it as a free gift. If your heart is longing for spiritual satisfaction today, just in faith accept it from your Lord and it is yours.

# # #