Parched
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; Psalm 63:1
Several years ago, we took a family trip to California. Along the way we saw lots of strange and interesting things, but by the interstate in Nevada, in the middle of the desert, we saw huge area full of perfectly round fields of lush green grass. There were large sprinkler systems that rotated around a central hub. Within the circle, grass grew strong and vibrant, but the edge was well-defined. Outside that circle was only dry sand. It was quite striking.
Psalm 63 has been on my heart for months now. It just keeps popping up for me, and always fills me with hope. David wrote this Psalm when he was in the wilderness of Judah. Most scholars opine that this was when he was in hiding from Saul. It is a beautiful psalm that shows David’s deep connection to, need of, and praise for God. To think that David wrote it while in hiding for his very life, separated from friends and family, and living in horrible conditions should make us all stop and take notice. How many of us struggle to praise God while living in the most prosperous and free country in the world?
We are parched and don’t even know it. We know we’re missing something, we know that something isn’t quite right, but we continue to try and fill that undefinable void with worldly things, and it’s never going to help. Just like drinking a coke when we’re thirsty feels good for a second, but doesn’t actually quench our thirst, we seek temporary things for a longing that is eternal. David had discovered the key. Walking closely with God can fill our emptiness in a way that is indescribable. And once, you’ve experienced that close communion that comes from total surrender, living any other way is unthinkable. Our salvation is a gift that can never be taken, but living a totally surrendered life removes any hindrances from our lives and allows God to work in us in a way that would have seemed impossible before.
Just like in those fields in Nevada, in order to flourish and experience growth in our spiritual lives, we have to be continually and liberally watered. Spending time in prayer, study, and worship is the best way to receive that water. David realized that seeking God early and often is the best way to maintain that relationship. I’m not a morning person, in fact, I’m not the friendliest person until I’ve been awake for a few minutes. I’ve been working on developing a habit of just laying quietly and spending some time in prayer before I ever even open my eyes or move around much. Just spending my first few seconds of each day taking time to talk to the Lord about what’s going on. Sometimes, it’s worries and concerns for the day, sometimes, I wake up with praise on my lips, sometimes my friends and loved ones are the first on my mind and I take their concerns to Him. Whatever my morning may hold, starting it off with a few minutes with Him always make it better. Much like that first glass of water in the morning, that time is welcome and refreshes my whole being.
Don’t stand outside the circle because you’re unwilling to take a step forward. Don’t miss a blessing because you’re holding on to an area of your life that you know that God is asking you to surrender. Whether it’s something you need to give up, or something you need to do, God may be asking you to make a change in your life that you’re holding back on. Surrender today and enjoy Him. Seek him out and experience His Blessings
