Longing for God

Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV)

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.
 

Reflection

Believers aren’t supposed to go through dry deserts of doubt, are we? If I’m honest, the heat of my current season has depleted some of my strength.

Sometimes these dry seasons make us wonder: is something wrong with me? But rest assured, there is nothing wrong with you! Even the best of the best received God’s love and grace in their wilderness:

• Moses and the burning bush
• Elijah and the voice of God
• Paul preparing to take the gospel to the Gentiles
• Jesus communing with God

Even in our passage today, David was writing while in the Judean wilderness running from King Saul and his men, who had been trying to kill him for seven years. Just imagine! Yet David sets all doubt aside in this psalm, expressing his allegiance to God and affirming his relationship. David cries out to God, seeking Him earnestly and accepting His provision. David believed the love of God toward him was more precious than life.

This is not just a cry for help. This was a raise-your-arms-to-heaven-praise from David’s soul to God for all the times God had protected him. David declared great confidence in God. He had a rich sense of being blessed.

We experience difficult terrain in life, too, but successful navigation rests on attitude. A pilot knows the significance of attitude. In flight training, “attitude” refers to the orientation of the nose and wings relative to the horizon. Movement results in change in attitude. By learning to control the aircraft with appropriate settings and knowledge of fundamentals, pilots can avoid dangers. Rushing through without practice or purpose can lead to tragedy. Successful pilots have intimate knowledge of flight maneuvers and how to execute them. Sometimes risky situations arise. A seasoned pilot will pull from knowledge and experience to straighten bearings, level out, and avoid turbulence.

Likewise, we can pull from our knowledge of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to straighten crooked attitudes. The compass bearing for Christians will always direct us to praise God even through the driest of valleys. Don’t you wait for times of blessing to praise Him. God’s love is real. Take it seriously. Cry out to Him. Correct your attitude. Praise Him.
And receive His blessing.


Action Steps
 

1. Contemplate what it means to find shelter “in the shadow of [God’s] wings” (verse 8). Where have you been finding shelter lately?
2. David’s soul was thirsty, so he earnestly sought God and His living water. On a hot, dry, miserable day, where do you seek water? This week, focus your bearings, and seek God.

Prayer
 
Heavenly Father, Your love and kindness is more precious than life. I’m desperate for You. Sometimes I feel distant from You because of my choices, my expectations, the noise of my schedule, or a dry season. Remind me to slow down and reject worldly situations that compete with my relationship with You. Keep confusion from my heart and mind. My faith is based on the truth of Your word. I will lift my arms to heaven and reach for You without reservation. I love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.