Monday, May 18, 2009

Are You Thirsty?

A husband and wife are stranded in the middle of a desert as a result of a plane crash. They have some food, but no water supply that will sustain them. The longer these conditions go on, the more desperate the couple will become. Their minds will start to play tricks on them. A case of bottled water used to be what they dreamed about, but now a single drop of water would be so satisfying they would faint.

A person can live many days without food, but without water the body shuts down in a matter of 3-4 days. The following is a brief description of the beginning stages of a person dying from a lack of water. “Saliva becomes thick and foul-tasting; the tongue clings irritatingly to the teeth and the roof of the mouth. . . . A lump seems to form in the throat . . . severe pain is felt in the head and neck. The face feels full due to the shrinking of the skin. Hearing is affected, and many people begin to hallucinate. . . . [then come] the agonies of a mouth that has ceased to generate saliva. The tongue hardens into 'a senseless weight, swinging on the still-soft root and striking foreignly against the teeth.' Speech becomes impossible, although sufferers have been known to moan and bellow.”

If they don’t get water they will perish. King David’s thirst for God was similar to people stranded in life with no perceived hope. Psalm 63:1 -- “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water" (NLT).

In my quiet time the other day God really spoke to me through this verse. David was alluding to the parched desert land in Judah. The Holy Spirit started speaking to my heart: Do I desperately seek God, as one dying of thirst? Are we earnest, sincere, heartfelt, deep, intense, strong, serious, solemn, sober, about our need for the Savior? I am not earnest as much as I need to be.

David's words do not describe my seeking of God on a regular basis.

How can we foster this, Lord? We need to be earnest. Thirst for You, desire, longing, craving, eagerness, yearning, to have an appetite for You. Why are we not like David with this deep desperate thirst for God? Look at your surroundings. Are they usually dry and weary? Don’t we realize we will die from a lack of God? Having a thirst for God where there is no water is even more crucial.

Help us “overcome acedia.” Give us a thirsty soul for You, O Lord! Amen.