Well, today I came out with a boatload of blessings, and many, many things to think about. In fact, I think all my thoughts are going to end up taking up more than one blog. Don't want to keep you too much in suspense, though, so I'll share at least the stanza of a particular poem featured in the August 7 devotional that so blessed me. Today, I'm just going to tackle part of it--but stay tuned for more! My plan is to post this whole stanza each time, bolding the line I'm focusing on.
And HERE we go!
Has He purified you with the fire from above?Have you ever been really hungry? You know, the kind where you could legitimately come up to someone and say "I'm starving" and not be exaggerating?
Is He first in your thoughts, does He have all your love?
Is His service your choice, and your sacrifice sweet?
Is your doing His will both your drink and your meat?
Do you run at His calling with glad eager feet?
(Streams in the Desert, L. B. Cowman, August 7)
I would venture to guess that most of you would have to say "no" to this particular question. Living in a "land of plenty," what we call hunger is a pale comparison to those who truly are lacking in food.
Yet, I'm sure we've all said we were hungry before - probably within the past day. So, maybe we think we can relate to what it means to hunger for God.
Or maybe we can't. Maybe only people who have truly been on the brink of starvation can truly conceive of what it means to crave God, to need God as much as you need food and water.
Yet, that is how we should feel about our Lord. David felt it.
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 NIVSo did Paul and Moses, and other Biblical saints. Do you? Is doing God's will YOUR drink and your meat? Can you be satisfied with nothing else? Do you need it to live as much as you need food and water? Do I long for it when I've "skipped a meal?"
This has been very convicting to me, and I wish I could give a resounding "yes" to each of the questions above. Yet, I cannot. I love my time with the Lord, but I'm not sure I quite have this kind of craving for the will of God - at least not all the time. Other things take up my time, or keep me distracted, or blush I find other things to temporarily fill that "God-sized hole."
But that's not what I want. I want to desire His will more than drink--His plan more than choice morsels. And with His Spirit, I can.
Heavenly Father, I confess that my desire for You is not as strong as you or I wish it to be. Lord, help me to desire Your will more deeply, to crave Your plan more strongly. Bring me to the point where I can say, with the Psalmist, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1 NIV). In the name of Your Precious Son I Pray. Amen
Beautiful. Prayed that prayer along with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a spendid post. I must admit, too often I fill up on "junk food" instead of the good food and drink that He offers. I'm working on it, though. Thanks for the prayer - I hope you don't mind that I joined you in it. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have felt this way often. As a matter of fact, once you have tasted God in a full way, when you're empty, it is all the more miserable. Unfortunately for me, often times, this kind of hunger and thirst comes during trials. Sad, eh?
ReplyDeleteThought-provoking post.
I'm with ya sister! I WANT to want it that bad, to crave God and truly feel like I would starve without him. Loved your thoughts today. And prayed your prayer. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCat
When I don't take time with the Lord, my "hunger pain" manifest as stress, discontent, an unsettled feeling within. It doesn't take long for me to notice my hunger, and thankfully, I am quicker to get to Jesus for the feeding.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a life-long lesson that I continue to learn.
peace~elaine