Thirsting After God
Title: Thirsting After God
Scripture: Psalms 42:1-4 - As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. for I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Just as the writer of Psalms 42 describes the life of a deer that depends upon water to satisfy his thirst, we as born again believers in Jesus Christ must depend on the Lord Jesus Christ and His word to satisfy our soul/lives. We are guilty of trying everything in this world to satisfy the desires of our heart. The things of this world -- like material things will never satisfy your soul. We will be empty -- always wanting for more. The only one who can fill that void in the human soul is by having a personal relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ -- and by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is within us. God's word is the remedy or antidote for our sinful ways. The truth of the matter is that we all have a disease -- sins of the heart, and the antidote for man and woman's dilemma is the truth that is found in God's word, which is the only cure that will satisfy the human soul of ones life. The writer of Psalms made a choice to call out to God. He was cast down in his soul, and he had to ask himself -- Why am I cast down o my soul? (vs. 5) When we find ourselves discouraged or depressed, we have to cry out to the Lord too. When God seems to be silent, our response is to meditate on God for who He is. (Psalms 47:2) For the Lord most high is awesome! He is a great king over all the earth. (Psalms 48:1) Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. (Psalms 42:8-9) He remembered God's lovingkindness was with him. God's presence makes all of the difference in my life. Also, in His presence we find joy for our soul! When the writer of the Psalms continued in his remembrance of who God was to him (vs 6-11), he had to redirect his thoughts and focus his mind and heart on God's ability and not on his own ability. When you are captive by your ability, the enemy will try to keep you burdened/cast down with emotional stress, pain, and sorrow; but as the writer cried out to God in prayer, he reaffirmed his faith and trust in God and what God meant to him.
Two biblical principles he reassured himself with were: (1 ) He is my rock. (Psalms 61:2, Psalms 62:2,5 and 7) A higher rock would be a refuge and safety. God's all surpassing strength is always with us. (b ) Trusting God to be the rock of our salvation and defense will change our entire outlook on life. We have to see life according to God's perspective. He will help us to rise above our problems and rest in His security and strength. Then nothing can shake us. (2 ) He is my hope. My hope is in the rock - Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 10:4) For you are my hope. (Psalms 72:5) My hope is in You. (Psalms 39:7) It is good that one should hope and wait quietly. (Lamentations 1:26) Only the true and living God our Savior Jesus Christ can satisfy the hunger and thirst of our soul in this life and eternal life to come. (Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.) Do you have a hunger and thirst for God and His word?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father -- Help us to depend on You to quench our soul's desires and to have a passion and a drive to pursue Your word that we may meditate on it every day and every night - by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Robert Williams
Scripture: Psalms 42:1-4 - As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. for I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
Just as the writer of Psalms 42 describes the life of a deer that depends upon water to satisfy his thirst, we as born again believers in Jesus Christ must depend on the Lord Jesus Christ and His word to satisfy our soul/lives. We are guilty of trying everything in this world to satisfy the desires of our heart. The things of this world -- like material things will never satisfy your soul. We will be empty -- always wanting for more. The only one who can fill that void in the human soul is by having a personal relationship with God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ -- and by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is within us. God's word is the remedy or antidote for our sinful ways. The truth of the matter is that we all have a disease -- sins of the heart, and the antidote for man and woman's dilemma is the truth that is found in God's word, which is the only cure that will satisfy the human soul of ones life. The writer of Psalms made a choice to call out to God. He was cast down in his soul, and he had to ask himself -- Why am I cast down o my soul? (vs. 5) When we find ourselves discouraged or depressed, we have to cry out to the Lord too. When God seems to be silent, our response is to meditate on God for who He is. (Psalms 47:2) For the Lord most high is awesome! He is a great king over all the earth. (Psalms 48:1) Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. (Psalms 42:8-9) He remembered God's lovingkindness was with him. God's presence makes all of the difference in my life. Also, in His presence we find joy for our soul! When the writer of the Psalms continued in his remembrance of who God was to him (vs 6-11), he had to redirect his thoughts and focus his mind and heart on God's ability and not on his own ability. When you are captive by your ability, the enemy will try to keep you burdened/cast down with emotional stress, pain, and sorrow; but as the writer cried out to God in prayer, he reaffirmed his faith and trust in God and what God meant to him.
Two biblical principles he reassured himself with were: (1 ) He is my rock. (Psalms 61:2, Psalms 62:2,5 and 7) A higher rock would be a refuge and safety. God's all surpassing strength is always with us. (b ) Trusting God to be the rock of our salvation and defense will change our entire outlook on life. We have to see life according to God's perspective. He will help us to rise above our problems and rest in His security and strength. Then nothing can shake us. (2 ) He is my hope. My hope is in the rock - Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 10:4) For you are my hope. (Psalms 72:5) My hope is in You. (Psalms 39:7) It is good that one should hope and wait quietly. (Lamentations 1:26) Only the true and living God our Savior Jesus Christ can satisfy the hunger and thirst of our soul in this life and eternal life to come. (Matthew 5:6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.) Do you have a hunger and thirst for God and His word?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father -- Help us to depend on You to quench our soul's desires and to have a passion and a drive to pursue Your word that we may meditate on it every day and every night - by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Robert Williams
2 Comments
Thanks for the devotional "Thirsting After God". I find that people can disappoint me, but never my LORD! Lesson learned over the years is that no one can meet my true need like Jesus. May I look to Him and to His Word always for spiritual strength and nourishment.
Thank you for this devotional!! It is nothing like thirsting after God!!! 🙌ðŸ¾ðŸ™ŒðŸ¾ðŸ’œ