Longing for God
Scripture Reading — Psalm 63
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you ... Psalm 63:1
"Earnestly I seek you." That's the heart of Psalm 63. Though we might not use such poetic language, we can understand what the psalmist is saying here.
It strikes me that in these words the psalmist is exposing his heart. He is not asking God for health for himself or his kids; he's not asking for extra income or a happier marriage. The psalmist is focusing on his relationship with God. He sees the power of God in worship, reflects on God in the dark of the night, and sings about God's protection.
I wonder whether we show this kind of desire for God as clearly as the psalmist does. It probably depends on our level of faith and where we are in our spiritual journey.
I know I am less "thirsty" for God when I am physically well, when my family is doing fine, and when things in the church are moving along. Yet I don't want my "thirst" to depend on my circumstances.
If desiring God is a good thing, then I have to nurture that desire. My heart really needs to understand the "dry and weary land" in which I live. When I know the arid turf that I call home, I am prepared to pursue the things of real value. As my soul thirsts for God, I will then also drink at the right place.
That is something I pray for.
"O God, you are my God." I seek you, and so I pray. Guide me to cultivate a thirst for you, and to long for you in this dry and weary world. Fill me with your water of life. Amen.
About the author — Henry Kranenburg
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