My Soul Thirsts for the Living God

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."
(Psalm 42:1,2)

I love the image this beautiful Psalm paints.

I can see the deer bristling with perspiration, mouth open, gasping for fresh air as it leaps over fallen trees and thick underbrush. He pauses and...wait! He hears the gurgling of a brook calling to his thirst. Instinctively, he turns in the direction of the flowing water. Desperation begins to leave his countenance. His frantic leaping calms to a steady walk, and carries him to the edge of the pristine water. Bowing at the water's edge, he drinks slowly and deeply of the liquid treasure. No longer is he thirsty. No longer is he weak.

Do we thirst for our God like the deer? Do we run about frantically - desperately - trying to find the source of the Living Water?

David did. He longed for His God. He knew that only El Shaddai, Almighty God, could satisfy his longing soul; Only El Shaddai could quench his thirst and refresh his spirit.

Do we long for God in the same manner? Are we desperate for Him?

As we run about in our busyness, in our panics and worries, do we instinctively stop when we hear the sound of our Lord calling? Do we even know the sound of our Lord when He calls?

Hmmm...good question.

Here's a better one: What is our response when we hear Him call?

Lord, It seems like all day I have heard You calling to me through the fallen trees and underbrush. And, ashamedly, most of the day (not all) I have resisted Your voice. Why do we choose to wallow in our doubts and fears when Your streams of Living Water are beckoning to us? Why do we do this, Lord? Please forgive me. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Be merciful to my brothers and sisters who also yearn for the nearness of their God, yet stubbornly resist Your call. You are an awesome God. Your love is from everlasting to everlasting. I praise Your Holy Name, Lord.