Desire for God

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
so pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1 NKJV

Here's a thought that came to me in the midst of meditating during my morning commute. This wasn't even any part of my Bible reading for this morning, or last night. I can't even remember how this one came to me at first. But let's say it has overtaken my thoughts today.

This is a simple and short sentence, but it speaks tons. David writes of an urgent and driving desire to be in God's presence. As the deer pants for the water brooks. You know, deer have this insatiable desire for the water they need to drink. When it comes on them, they must get to where the water is, and they don't care what's in their way. They'll jump fences along freeways if they can.

Now being in the presence of God in prayer and worship, and I write about personal prayer and worship, is what God has designed us for. It is the only thing that really fulfills our inner being. When we sincerely seek God in private prayer, God reciprocates, or answers back, with an experience of His presence. That response from God is something we then desire again and again.

Since I work a lot in the marketing realm, I tend to relate to things like commercials. I know that sounds dumb, but it's true. A sign of my upbringing. You know those cereal commercials where the kids basically turn into monsters, or what not, to illustrate how much they "need" or desire those Corn Pops? "I gotta have my Pops!" they say. Or when the Chef Boy-ar-dee can comes around, the kids chase after it with reckless abandon. This is kind of like what David was experiencing. He just had to have his time with God.

After ruling the kingdom for a long day, he just needed to get away and into the presence of God. Do you have some time after your responsibilities are over, so you can do this? Back in my single days, I remember making my closet literally a prayer closet. Making a mat out of some old blanket, getting inside and crouching in the darkness to pour out my heart before the Lord. I knew if someone was looking for me, they wouldn't think of looking there.

At another time, when I had no closet, or similar space, my bed was high enough for me to slide under, clasp my hands over my face and take my time to be with God. Have you ever come out of some time like that, maybe after a solid half hour, or hour, with the sweetness of the presence of God on you? Is this the kind of thing that is greatly lacking in our day? I know I have made many other busy things pull me away from this over the past few years.

One other important thing about this drive for the water the deer have: it occurs every day, and twice a day, in fact. In the early morning and early twilight. And of course, we morning commuters are well aware of this fact.

So, will we nurture this today? If we desire more sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, more fellowship with our Savior, and just being more used of God, we urgently need this.