Soul Thirsts

63 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 

1  O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; 

my soul thirsts for you; 

my flesh faints for you, 

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 63:title–1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Abba,

I picture a stretch of barren land for as far as the eye can see. 

Dry.  So dry.  Cracked and broken.

The sun beating down, hot and oppressive.

Skin red, burnt, and raw under the relentless rays.

Shade nothing more than a hope and desire.

Weary legs carrying me….who knows where.

Destination unknown.

Last bit of water gone now

Being spilled carelessly on the ground many miles before

Sucked up by a ground as desperate for water as me

Disappearing into the dry cracks, leave no trace of its passing.

Hopelessness descends in a dry and thirsty land.

Desperation clawing at my soul

Fear punching my gut

Desire for water, mere water the only thought in my mind.

This, this is how I picture the tone and desire of this passage. 

EARNEST…desperate….fervent….seeking.

Like one on the precipice of death unless it is found.

An all consuming thought, desire.

This, Abba, is how I want to seek You.

This is how we should desire you.

Does my soul, do our souls really seek you this earnestly, this passionately?

Is our every thought bent on obtaining you, as one would in the dry and barren wasteland?

Is our hope of obtaining you overshadowing every other care, every other desire of our hearts?

Do we FEAR not receiving it, certain that death will ensure if we don’t receive that necessary living granting water?

Are we desperate for you?

Do we desire you?

Does our soul faint until we find you?

May it be so, Abba.  May it be so.  Let our every fiber groan and ache for the apprehension of you!

The imagery of this single verse is so intensely vivid.  It strikes like a punch.  It leaves one reeling in wonder.  Do we truly long for you in this way?

Oh, Abba, would it be that today you would grant us such a desire.  And not just today.  But everyday.  May our hearts crave you and desire you this earnestly, this passionately, this desperately.  And may we find you.  May our souls be satisfied with you, as they were always intended to be.

We love you, Abba. We earnestly seek you! Thank you for not being hidden from us.