Most everyone knows what it feels like to be thirsty. Where I live, it gets ridiculously hot in the summer. Therefore, when working outside, I take water with me to sip on as I work. It is an awful feeling to be thirsty and not be able to quench that thirst. When you are physically thirsty, it consumes you. The longer you go without a drink, the more you want it. A few years back, I determined it would be better for my health to drink lots of water. I began a regimen of drinking water all day as my beverage of choice. Now, because of the disciplined habit of drinking water, I crave it all day. I carry my thermal glass with me everywhere I go. When I happen to get away from home without it, I feel lost. As bad as it feels to be physically thirsty, to long for that drink, it is worse to feel spiritually thirsty and not have it quenched. My soul becomes thirsty for God, just like my body becomes thirsty for water.
In Psalms 63:1, David is thirsty for God. He is in the wilderness, where it is like a desert. He expresses his need for God to refresh his soul. He longs for God to be near him. He is running for his life. David is being pursued by his enemies, his own son Absalom was seeking the crown, and the only way he could become king was at the death of his father. David felt distant from God and wanted to be able to go to the sanctuary where he normally worshiped and praised God. When we make it a practice to meet with God daily, to study and pray and connect with Him, our soul will miss that communication. Our soul will ache to be with Him and feel His presence. We will long for the fountain that satisfies our souls. The thirst will consume our thoughts and our feelings until refreshment comes.
Psalm 63:1-2 “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsted for thee, my flesh longed 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.”
We all will go through times when we feel dry and distant from God. It may be a testing of our faith where God seems silent. We must continue to seek Him and serve Him according to His word. Stay true even when we don’t feel like it. We must understand that our flesh is weak; it is tainted by sin, and our feelings cannot be our guide. When we sink into these dry desert times, it is easy to feel sorry for ourselves and take our eyes off God. We must always remember our help comes from Him. The creator of everything has not abandoned us; He is still in control. When we feel distant, read more of His Word, and allow our head knowledge of His truths to override our feelings. It is vital for your spiritual survival to memorize His word. Knowing His word will guide you away from sin and to Him. That is what Psalm 119:11 is talking about.
Psalm 121:2 “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
At other times, we may feel distant because we have sin in our lives, and our sin is between us and God. If this is the case, repent and allow your soul to be refreshed by God. His mercy endures forever, and He is waiting and ready to forgive a repentant heart.
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
It is good for us to be spiritually thirsty. It is then that we seek refreshment for our souls. It is then we want to be alone with God to study and pray. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will desire Him. When you love Him enough to be truly thirsty for Him, nothing else will satisfy you.
When was the last time you longed to be alone with God, to feel Him so near you were at perfect peace, and nothing else mattered? Those are precious times, but we must remember that no matter how we feel, He is always present. He is always in control, and He always loves us.
