Do You Thirst for God?

March 21, 2022

Do you thirst for God?

Do You Thirst for God?

By Brooke Holt

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1)

What do you think about King David? Do you think of him as the man after God’s own heart, the man who committed adultery with and murder for Bathsheba, the king who ruled Israel for forty years, or the shepherd boy who was anointed king but spent years running from King Saul?

In this psalm, you are invited to travel with David through the wilderness. Though anointed by Samuel as the king of Israel, David lived as a fugitive, never knowing where danger hid and what the future held for him. It sounds like our lives today, doesn’t it? Like David, we too are anointed, we have a calling to build the kingdom of God, and we have uncertainty and adversity surrounding us.

How did David respond? He thirsted for the Lord. He longed for the Lord, even more than he longed for the throne or safety. David sought the Lord in his time of need and made the presence of the Lord his greatest desire. His desire for the Lord was a desperate thirst in the middle of the desert.

Sit with that imagery for a moment. Try to fathom David’s desperate desire for the Lord. Is that your response when you walk through the wilderness? Is that your response when nothing seems to be going as you had planned? Do you bring your deepest desires and needs to the Lord, trusting that he alone can satisfy you? Or do you turn elsewhere?

David models what we should do with our deepest needs, fears, uncertainties, and desires. When your soul cries out with desperation, seek the Lord. Trust that his living water is abundant and available even in your driest seasons of life.

Reflection:

Are you thirsting for God today? What is one spiritual habit that will help you build your trust in God this week? How will you make time to meet with God in that habit? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.