Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Matthew 5:6, NIV
Last Sunday we talked about what it means to hunger and thirst for God's righteousness. In the sermon I spoke more about hunger than about thirst. But yesterday I was thinking more about thirst. The lack of water was not my own, but that of my front lawn. With the recent near-drought conditions, my lawn has been turning brown because of the incredible heat and the lack of rain. I tried watering it a few times, but it didn't seem to help that much. But then yesterday it finally rained! As the clouds moved in, I was hoping this might be a day we actually got some rain. When it started to come down hard, I was excited and relieved. I even enjoyed listening to the thunder that accompanied the showers.
The Psalmist writes about his thirst this way: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." (Psalm 42:1, NIV) Do you ever feel like your soul is thirsting for God? Yesterday on the way to work, I saw a deer walking next to the woods on 141 just north of the church. It looked thirsty - maybe it was searching for water. Sometimes it seems like my soul is dry and I need God to quench the thirst of my spirit. I long for the rains of God's grace to fall upon my soul like the showers we experienced yesterday.
I have come to learn that our spiritual lives have rainy seasons and dry seasons just like our weather. Sometimes it feels like I am going through a drought. But then something happens unexpectedly and I become aware of the grace of God present in my life. Sometimes it comes through the words of a song. Sometimes it happens as I am reading my Bible. Sometimes it is a kind word from a stranger. It may even come as I watch the sun setting behind the evening clouds. So, may God quench your spiritual thirst soon!
Prayer for Today
Loving God, as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Please fill me with your living water this day. In the strong name of Christ we pray. Amen.
