I search for you.
I thirst for you
like someone in a dry, empty land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the Temple
and have seen your strength and glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
I will praise you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands in prayer to your name.
5 I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods.
My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
6 I remember you while I'm lying in bed;
I think about you through the night.
7 You are my help.
Because of your protection, I sing.
8 I stay close to you;
you support me with your right hand.
Psalm 63
I thirst for you
like someone in a dry, empty land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the Temple
and have seen your strength and glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
I will praise you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands in prayer to your name.
5 I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods.
My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise you.
6 I remember you while I'm lying in bed;
I think about you through the night.
7 You are my help.
Because of your protection, I sing.
8 I stay close to you;
you support me with your right hand.
Psalm 63
Or, as I heard it in a Jami Smith song:
"Oh, God, you are my God! Earnestly I seek you! My body longs for you, my soul thirsts for you. In a dry and weary land, where there is no stream. You extend your gracious hand and give life to me..."
People don't speak this way anymore- not most people, anyway. You might hear language like this in an overly dramatic love story or in one of those awkward yogurt commercials "My body longs for you... oh chocolate goodness!" But rarely will we hear people praying like this or even speaking OF God like this, let alone TO Him like this.
Here we have David- in the desert of Judah- crying out in desperation for God. There aren't too many times I've cried out in desperation for God when I wasn't seeking His hand. Here David is simply saying "God- it's YOU I want- all of YOU!" Not God's hand... His heart.
David's words made me blush a bit. I mean- I've honestly thought this way about the hottie... (I'll spare you the details). I've felt like my body longed for water or for food... but not too often have I thought how my body was longing for God. And it makes me a little sad, and really almost jealous of this wonderful relationship that David had with God. I want that.
I have spent much of my life seeking the favor of God or the hand of God and I want to be back in that place where I first fell in love with Him... where all I wanted was His love. I know we've been through seasons of physical need and have been learning to trust Him as our provider. He's proven Himself time and time again. So I think it's time for us to continue to grow as we get to know Him. Yes, we will always need and depend on His provision and His direction and guidance to get us through life, but I want to hunger and thirst for Him. I want to know Him so intimately that the times when I am not alone with Him, my body longs for Him and my soul thirsts for Him...
As we continue to get closer to Christmas day, I've been visiting with the kids about Christmas, about the birth of Christ and why it's so important. We've talked about Jesus coming to save us, but I want them to know and understand this as well. It was never just about us being saved. It was about God's love- coming down to earth. He wanted to separate the great divide so that we could know Him here on earth and experience His great love in an active relationship with Him and to know Him intimately BEFORE we get to heaven. Yes, He did come to save us, but to love us as well. "For God so loved the world..." He loved us. In spite of our sin, He still loves us. Even though we've gotten away from the meaning of the season. Even though we've commercialized this day. Even though we've been hand seekers, rather than heart seekers.
I cannot help but stand in awe of this love- this amazing love that He has for us- for me. He knew I'd be one of the greatest screw ups to ever live. He knew I'd lie, cheat, steal, and gossip. He knew I'd lose my temper with my kids and be a glutton. He knew I'd go through seasons of only seeking His hand... and still he loved me. In spite of it all, HE. LOVED. ME. He pursued me. He never, not for one moment, did not love me- or you, or any of us.
I saw this morning that a world renowned pastor said on national television that the true meaning of Christmas was making memories with your family. I'm not here to bash anyone, but dear pastor, you're way off base... and I hope you figure it out sooner rather than later, because dear friend- you are missing out. The true meaning of Christmas is love. God's love.
And so, as I sip my cup of warm morning goodness, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you. In the midst of memory making and holiday traditions, baking, shopping, lights, wrapping, and giving- don't miss it... it is, after all, the reason for this season.
Still learning. Still growing. Still becoming
No longer I,
The Real Life Mom
People don't speak this way anymore- not most people, anyway. You might hear language like this in an overly dramatic love story or in one of those awkward yogurt commercials "My body longs for you... oh chocolate goodness!" But rarely will we hear people praying like this or even speaking OF God like this, let alone TO Him like this.
Here we have David- in the desert of Judah- crying out in desperation for God. There aren't too many times I've cried out in desperation for God when I wasn't seeking His hand. Here David is simply saying "God- it's YOU I want- all of YOU!" Not God's hand... His heart.
David's words made me blush a bit. I mean- I've honestly thought this way about the hottie... (I'll spare you the details). I've felt like my body longed for water or for food... but not too often have I thought how my body was longing for God. And it makes me a little sad, and really almost jealous of this wonderful relationship that David had with God. I want that.
I have spent much of my life seeking the favor of God or the hand of God and I want to be back in that place where I first fell in love with Him... where all I wanted was His love. I know we've been through seasons of physical need and have been learning to trust Him as our provider. He's proven Himself time and time again. So I think it's time for us to continue to grow as we get to know Him. Yes, we will always need and depend on His provision and His direction and guidance to get us through life, but I want to hunger and thirst for Him. I want to know Him so intimately that the times when I am not alone with Him, my body longs for Him and my soul thirsts for Him...
As we continue to get closer to Christmas day, I've been visiting with the kids about Christmas, about the birth of Christ and why it's so important. We've talked about Jesus coming to save us, but I want them to know and understand this as well. It was never just about us being saved. It was about God's love- coming down to earth. He wanted to separate the great divide so that we could know Him here on earth and experience His great love in an active relationship with Him and to know Him intimately BEFORE we get to heaven. Yes, He did come to save us, but to love us as well. "For God so loved the world..." He loved us. In spite of our sin, He still loves us. Even though we've gotten away from the meaning of the season. Even though we've commercialized this day. Even though we've been hand seekers, rather than heart seekers.
I cannot help but stand in awe of this love- this amazing love that He has for us- for me. He knew I'd be one of the greatest screw ups to ever live. He knew I'd lie, cheat, steal, and gossip. He knew I'd lose my temper with my kids and be a glutton. He knew I'd go through seasons of only seeking His hand... and still he loved me. In spite of it all, HE. LOVED. ME. He pursued me. He never, not for one moment, did not love me- or you, or any of us.
I saw this morning that a world renowned pastor said on national television that the true meaning of Christmas was making memories with your family. I'm not here to bash anyone, but dear pastor, you're way off base... and I hope you figure it out sooner rather than later, because dear friend- you are missing out. The true meaning of Christmas is love. God's love.
And so, as I sip my cup of warm morning goodness, I thought I'd share my thoughts with you. In the midst of memory making and holiday traditions, baking, shopping, lights, wrapping, and giving- don't miss it... it is, after all, the reason for this season.
Still learning. Still growing. Still becoming
No longer I,
The Real Life Mom
1 comment:
I like the verse you chosen today because every night when I am laying in bed and the house is still I think about God and I talk to Him until I fall asleep. To me it's the best thing I can do is go to sleep with Him on my mind and when I wake up in the morning He's the first person I think of...Great post
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