Thirsting for God

Psalm 63:1–5, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:”

David wrote Psalm 63 while he was in the wilderness.

That matters.

He was surrounded by a dry and thirsty land, and that physical landscape became a picture of what was happening within his heart.

But notice what David wanted most.

He did not begin by asking for easier circumstances.

He said, “My soul thirsteth for thee.”

Sometimes we become so focused on asking God to change our situation that we forget our greatest need is God Himself.

David remembered worshipping in the sanctuary. He remembered seeing the power and glory of God. Now, in the wilderness, his heart longed for that fellowship again.

And yet David still praised.

“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

The wilderness could change David’s location, but it could not change God’s lovingkindness.

There are times when our soul feels dry. Worship may not come as easily. Prayer may feel difficult. We may long for a season when God seemed nearer.

When that happens, do not satisfy spiritual thirst with things that cannot satisfy.

Seek Him.

His presence is better than the thing you are missing. His lovingkindness is better than life.

And only He can satisfy the thirsty soul.

Act Today: Before asking God for anything today, spend a few minutes simply seeking Him. Tell Him that you want to know Him more, and let your first request be David’s: “My soul thirsteth for thee.”