That Much – Devotion 68

How bad do you want it?  How hard are you willing to work for it?  What would you be willing to do to achieve it?  What would you be willing to sacrifice to be successful?  How important is this to you?

These are some of the questions we ask ourselves when we are considering something new.  It may be a new job opportunity or a new personal goal.  It could be the decision to return to school or to work for the certificate that would help us in our career.  It will alter our life as we know it but may be worth the effort.  We must decide how bad we really do want it.  Is it worth all the time and effort?

Today’s focus scripture is a part of Psalm 42.  The Psalmist has a longing, a deep desire for God.  It is described as a thirst for God.  When we consider what it means to long for something or to deeply thirst for it, we know the desire is expansive.  We begin to get a vision of just how bad the Psalmist wants God.  There is such a desire that as he looks at the deer longing for streams of water, he envisions his thirst for God.  He wants to see, hear, experience God and he wants this with his entire being.  He wants it bad.

There are many things in our lives we may long for.  There are many goals we set and plans we make.  There are achievements we want bad and are willing to work hard for them.  But I wonder if we have that type of desire to know God better.  Do we seek him with that same fervor?  Do we want to hear from him with that same longing?  Are we willing to give him our time and our attention?  Do we really want to see him, hear from him, know him better?  Is that really our goal?  Do we really want it that bad?

I pray I have that desire to know him.  I want to live with a longing to experience him in my life.  I want to see him working all around me.  May I have that deep desire for God today.  And may I be changed.  How about you?

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 42:1-6a

¹ As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
² My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
³ My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”

⁴ These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
⁵ Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help ⁶ and my God.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery