Soul's Desire

Scripture

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

Do you long for God as the writer did in this Psalm, Beloved? This verse is describing an intense desire and longing to be in the presence of God. It is describing a person who yearns for fellowship with the Father. Is that your desire? The writer creates a metaphor that illustrates a life-sustaining need for God. Several scriptures encourage the believer to desire and seek the Lord. God desires that we long for Him as He longs for us. He is relational, and that means He wants us to know Him intimately. He is not a sovereign King that we don't have access to. Paul said in Acts 17:27, "that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us.” He is closer to us than we might feel or believe. He's not an unknown god; He is the sovereign God whose heart's desire is for us to know Him. 

That word, 'panting' in Hebrew, means to have a yearning and longing. This implies that the writer is having an intense experience. Beloved, as we mature spiritually, our view of God will shift. He'll go from being the God of blessings. The one that pulls us out of jams and works situations out for us. He's all of this, but so much more. As we mature, we'll shift from wanting to be blessed by Him to simply wanting Him. He's the Most High God, but He's also a vulnerable God. He wants to be loved by His family, Beloved. Somewhere on this journey with Him, your heart will become more and more tender for Him. The more you seek Him, the intensity of your yearning for Him will grow. In Jeremiah 29:13, God promises that we will find Him when we seek Him with our whole heart.

He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Beloved, your yearning, seeking, and desiring Him will never be in vain. As much as we long for Him, His desire for us surpasses that.  He once told me, "Daughter, you'll never comprehend how much I love you." I believe that statement with my whole heart. Beloved, no matter where you are on your Christian journey, seek the Father. Develop a yearning for His presence. Christ did not reconcile us to the heart of the Father so that we can admire Him from afar. We have access to the presence of the King. All we have to do is inquire in His temple. 

Prayer

Give us hearts that long after you and your Word, and guide us on this journey to desiring you above all else".  In Jesus' name. Amen