PSALM 42:1-2

As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you O God.  My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

TO PONDER

This morning, I went to read my emails, only to find someone trying to scam me. It was not a pleasant experience giving rise to many negative thoughts; things I considered were interfering with my life; I just wished I was elsewhere.        

King David expresses how his soul is thirsty, just as he can see the hunted deer in the desert panting and searching for water, so does he want refuge from his oppressors, and his soul thirsts for the living God. He wants to seek God in his temple, to be able to worship him and find rest.                                                                             

I needed that comfort this morning; we all need that comfort at times. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he made it easy for us to approach God. Jesus referred to himself as “Living water" [John 4:10] and the promise of eternal life. Jesus himself said his soul was troubled “to the point of death” [Mark 14:34] and again in John 12:27 “Now my heart is troubled and what shall I say….”  Jesus’ reaction was to pray to his Father.                                                      

This is our starting point, taking those things that take our peace away to God in prayer. Like we said in yesterday’s devotion, have that deep truthful spiritual connection with God, share your cares with him. But like the psalmist we need more, we need to seek God, this God who is alive. King David sought God in his temple, we need to seek him through his word. By listening to his word and joining with other believers we are drawn into his presence and find our souls being sated. It becomes natural to want to give thanks and praise to God, to want to serve him, honour and obey him every day of our lives.

PRAYER:Gracious God, you are the person I flee to when pressures of this life burden me and I long to be in your presence. I thank you for Jesus death and resurrection so that I can bring my burdens to you and find peace as I share them with you.  I ask for your forgiveness when I decide I can fix things on my own and usually end up making things worse.  Amen

Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle.