Psalms‬ ‭63:1-3... “(1) God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. (2) So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.  (3) My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.”‬‬ 

The origin of this Psalm is an elderly David’s wilderness wandering.  The king was fleeing his son, Absalom, who was attempting to take his life and Israel’s throne.  In verse 1, the longing is not the groping of a stranger, feeling his way towards God, but rather eagerness of a friend or someone extremely close.  What always strikes me is that David is in a desert and in physical need, but his true thirst is for God‘s presence above his physical needs.  King David’s search for God is not a casual or indifferent one. It is consuming Him.  David is desperate for God’s presence.  In life-sapping heat and uncertainty, David’s thirst was for God, not water.  Despite this being counterintuitive to us, this is God‘s desire; that we long for his presence above all.  I believe much of our frustration and dissatisfaction with life is that we look for satisfaction in what is temporary when it can only truly be found in the eternal God.  Despite what he is experiencing, David desires God’s presence and declares His Goodness.

During this time, we are all walking through this wilderness named COVID19. Are you desiring God’s presence and declaring His Goodness or are you complaining about the heat and lack of water?  Are you seeking The King and His Kingdom each day or worried about daily bread (Matt. 6:25-34).  In John 4, The Lord Jesus encountered a woman and changed her life.  In John 4:11, Jesus invites the lost, wandering women, and us today to thirst for His Living Water.  We must go daily to Christ, our fountain, and drink.  Drink in prayer.  Drink by reading His Word.  Drink from meditating on His Goodness and Faithful Love.  Allow His praise to flow from your lips like fountain.  

Please pray…

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for drinking from lesser fountains that will never satisfy me.  Father, I know that only you will truly satisfy my soul.  Please pour your Living Water out on me, by your Spirit. In Christ’ name.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand." - ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ 

Coronavirus.  Pandemic.  Social distancing.  Quarantine.  These are unprecedented times we are living in. The last few weeks my heart has been filled with fear, doubt, and anxiety. As this pandemic has swept the globe, all of our human frailties and limitations have become abundantly clear.  And now, we find ourselves on lockdown with most of the comfort, commitments, and conveniences of life, stripped away.

Family, this is a time of great isolation.  This pandemic has created distance in every facet of life.  We may be in isolation, but God is still near.  

In Isaiah 41, The Lord speaks of His Sovereign comfort, care, and concern.  The context of Isaiah 41 is The Lord declaring His supervision over the nations, kings, the winds, and the waves, to Israel despite their inability to trust Him.  The Lord is reminding His people of His nearness and the strength and sustaining grace He offers them.  

This is Good News to us as we are isolated and distant from each other and much of what we cherish in life.  The Lord Jesus died to bridge the gap between A Righteous God and unrighteous sinners. We now enjoy God's Nearness and uninterrupted fellowship with The Triune God.  Because of Christ's shed blood, there is no social or cosmic distance between us and our Father in Heaven.  No need to be enslaved by fear and anxiety, because we are free to come to our Father (Hebrews 4:16). 

Family, let us joyfully embrace our powerlessness and cling to His Unlimited Power (2. Corinthians 12:6-10)  Despite, our current isolation, our God is near and for us. “...I will never leave you or abandon you.” — (Hebrews 13:5) “...And remember,  I am with you always,  to the end of the age.” — (Matthew 28:20). 

Please pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you that your precious Son, Jesus, removed the distance we created by our sin.  Please allow me to feel your nearness during these difficult times.  Strengthen my faith to believe you are here now that everything else is stripped away.  In Jesus’ Great Name.  Amen.