10-14-2009 Oh How My Soul Longs

Oh, How My Soul Longs   October14, 2009 ~Denise Grant   "O God, my God! How I search for you! How I thirst for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. How I long to find you! How I wish I could go into your sanctuary to see your strength and glory, for your love and kindness are better to me than life itself. How I praise you! I will bless you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. At last I shall be fully satisfied; I will praise you with great joy." Psalms 63:1-5          Can you recall a time when you have been most thirsty? Perhaps, you were where there was no water or anything nearby in which to quench your terrible thirst. Your mouth felt like cotton and your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth. Your lips were parched, dry and cracking. You felt as if you would surely die if you could not find something to drink – and quick! How did you deal with the incredible longing?        Can you remember just how wonderful it felt when you were finally able to relieve your thirst?        During the time David wrote the above verse, he was intensely lonely. He was seeking refuge during Absalom's rebellion and hiding out from his enemies in the barren wilderness of Judea. He likened his loneliness to a terrible thirst. He longed for a friend he could trust. No wonder he cried out, "O God, my God! How I search for you! How I thirst for you.", as he sought lasting satisfaction.        Maybe you're a bit thirsty right now? If you are lonely or long for something lasting in your life - remember David's prayer. Look no further - only God can satisfy your deepest longings!        For reasons I have no answers - I spend a lot of nights, longing for sleep to come. One way I pass the time, is to turn my thoughts to God. I recently read that illness, stress and worry are only a few of the reasons why we can't sleep – but honestly, who has little of these worries, on their proverbial plate these days? So, I've elected to turn my sleepless nights into quiet times of reflection and worship.        Surely, you too have experienced one of Satan's many ambushes – where he comes in an evil plot to catch you unprepared? He tempts us in our weakest areas and when we least expect it. He's just good like that. But Psalms 64:7 tells us, "But God himself will shoot them down. Suddenly his arrow will pierce them." – whether our enemies are physical or spiritual – God always comes to our rescue. Hallelujah!  Wickedness may seem widespread and it does affect us in many ways, but the final victory belongs to God and those who trust and believe in Him. Is that you my friend? Do you trust and believe in Him?        Can you relate to David's prayer above? Do his words describe your souls' deepest longing? If so, the way to quench your soul's thirst is not through water – but through God's love.        When we come to Him in worship, it's as if we are taking our thirsty souls to the wellspring of God's love and drawing in deep, fulfilling and long gulps of His goodness and grace.        God's love is better than life itself – amen? He's more than capable – and willing – to pour it out on us when we simply turn to him in worship and offer Him our meager cups.  It is then that we can begin to understand what true soul satisfaction feels like.  Until then – we're thirsty as dust in a dry and barren desert - parched without perfection or peace.        Drink! - How refreshing is God's love!     Loving God,        I thank You so much for Your unending love. Thank You for pouring it out so generously into my soul. Thank You for giving my soul what it so desperately needs to be satisfied – Your refreshing and thirst-quenching love. I worship You, Lord, and I offer my soul to You. Please fill it with Your love. I need Your love, Lord. I need it to feel complete. Thank You for giving it to me. In Jesus' name. Amen. Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands. God is the source of my existence. He has become my Lord and my friend. It is He alone who keeps me functioning each day and the absolute only reason I bother to get up in the mornings. I am a precious daughter of the Most High King and I know that I am absolutely worthless without Him! Side by side with the Savior -  ...."I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". Philippians. 4:13  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14