Panting after God
By Peggy Park
On Fridays, Christ Compels Ministry welcomes some of our dear friends as guest devotional writers. This Friday, we welcome Peggy Park, Author of The Power of the Lamb’s Blood, by Winepress Publishers
Available through any book store or at www.parkpraisepublications.com
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalm 42:1-2a (nkjv)..
Do you know what it is like to be really thirsty and not be able to get water? Three days is about the longest most living creatures can live without water. There are a few exceptions, such as camels and elephants which have built in storage systems.
I picture the deer as it runs through the forest seeking water to quench its thirst. It eagerly laps up the water when it comes upon the flowing brook. I can relate to the Scripture above which pictures a deer panting for a stream of water. I have often felt thirsty for God when I could not seem to get to Him in a time of trouble. The longer I am in this situation, the thirstier I become for Him. Then when I finally break through to His presence (He is always there, but sometimes we just do not perceive His presence.), I drink deeply as I enjoy His fellowship and I am refreshed.
The Psalmist compares the deer to his own inner search for God. Scripture promises when we thirst not only can we drink, but we will have water to pour out to others. Jesus proclaims in John 7:37-38, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
I also am encouraged by the words of Revelation 21:6b, “to him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” I resolve to run to Him with my spiritual thirst just as the deer runs to the water brook to satisfy its thirst. I always want to drink deeply of the living water God provided in Jesus.
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