Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Psalms 42: 1-11. Does your heart yearn and ache to be in the presence of God? Do you take any and every chance to speak to and get some time alone with God?
“1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One[d]
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”
I often wonder at the level of gratitude and thanksgiving I see in the church for their salvation. I wonder if feel that we have “earned our good standing” with God. That our lack of vulgar words and our efforts to only watch PG-rated movies has left us with a punched ticket to heaven.
Don’t get me wrong, I long for heaven, but not because it acts as a reprise from life. I long for heaven so that I can experience God 100% unfiltered. I long to not have the earthly body and limitations limit my words, actions, and intimacy with the Almighty!
My heart pants and longs for the presence of God as a hot tired deer pants towards a cool stream in the heat of summer. I’m desperate to see my God, I’m desperate to worship Him and desperate to have Him glorified!
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you fill the earth with your presence and that I can fulfill my heart’s longing. I choose to take the moments, every moment that I can to look to you. You are the greatest reward for me and I worship you today and forever for you alone are worthy!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen