God, open my eyes and ears and heart to see and hear what You want to say to me this day.For You alone, my soul waits hushed. I come in eager anticipation to meet You today in these verses! I can’t wait to spend time with You! Amen.
The Verses for today are from Psalm 42:1-5
From the NIV Version:
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
And from the Message Version:
A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it – arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears – tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, pestering, “Where is this God of yours?” These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, shouting praises, singing thanksgiving – celebrating, all of us, God’s feast! Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God – soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
This week’s Message at Point of Grace centered around Matthew 11:28:
Jesus said, “Come to ME all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
I also want to share the following commentary regarding the Psalm 42 reading from Eugene Peterson (The Message Translator):
“A thirsty deer is a metaphor for us. What water is to the deer, God is to you and to me. We simply must have water. We simply must have God. And it must be the living God. Nothing stale or stagnant. The deer runs past all the mud puddles and swamps and marshes to clear, flowing streams. I don’t want what is left over from God after last week’s thundershower. I want Him fresh, flowing, living. What I learned in Sunday School in the third grade won’t satisfy me. What I read in the Bible last week won’t satisfy me. What someone told me this morning on TV or the radio won’t quench my thirst. I want to get the water myself. I have to have God. Every thirst, every hunger, every longing for satisfaction is a metaphor for the fundamental longing in our lives for God.”
Wow! I have had many satisfying “drinks” of God in my life. Like an inspirational Sermon. Maybe a retreat – a “mountain top” high. A great Christian Book. A wonderful Sunday School Flannel Board Lesson from 2nd Grade! Awesome Vacation Bible School memories – complete with grape Kool-Aid and Chocolate Chip Cookies! Hmmm.
So, what are You saying to me today God?
“Don’t settle for stale water. You can't stay alive from water you drank 10 years ago! You won't stay alive by drinking the water the world offers. So, stop going to the world, to TV, to movies, to shopping, to your spouse, to your kids, to alcohol, drugs, sex, food, _____, _____, ____. Those water holes are stale. Those water holes are stagnant. Those water holes are poison to your soul.”
So, God, when I am on a diet of tears – tears for breakfast, tears for supper… when I am down in the dumps… when I am crying the blues…. When I am weary… when I am burdened…what am I supposed to do?
“Come to Me, Dawn. Drink in draughts of Me. Fix your eyes on Me. Come to Me. I will give you REST. I am fresh, living water. Come to Me. Find Rest for your soul.”
“How long has it been since you have taken a drink of Me?”
“Fix your eyes on Me, Dawn. Soon you will be praising again. I will put a smile on your face. I am your God.”
A person can only survive 48 hours or so without water. What about Spiritually? If I am counting on those past “drinks” of God – to carry me through life – then I am dead! I am spiritually dead from thirst! I don’t want that! I don’t want to go through the rest of life THIRSTY, TIRED, WEARY, and BURDENED. I want to finally learn this lesson – and crawl if needed on my hands and knees to this Life-giving Stream of Water that Jesus offers me --- but not just now and then -- DAILY!
“Come to Me.”
“Fix your eyes on Me.”
“Rest.”
“Drink.”
“Soon you will be praising again!”
“I will put a smile on your face.”
“I am your God.”
How about you?
Thirsty?
-dawn