“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God.  I thirst for God. The living God.  When can I go and stand before Him?  Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise Him again-my Savior and my God!”

Psalm 42:1-2, 5 (NLT)

Last year, I journaled through the Psalms, and I was blessed to see how this book of the Bible spoke to my heart in this exercise, each day. This year, I am now reading the Psalms once again and reading my notes from last year’s journal. God continues to speak to me through this study. It is amazing. This journaling brought to me the feeling that I got to know King David (writer of many of the Psalms) so much better. 

The Bible tells us that David was said to be a “man after God’s own heart.” When I look at the Psalms, I love how David freely pours out his heart to the Lord. David had a crazy life. It was sometimes up and then down and then up again, not to mention some of his very misguided mistakes (adultery and murder at the top of the list), but David always turned back to God when he felt a distance from Him. He relied on God for his true strength in life!

In these days of social distancing, we can feel disconnected from everyday experiences. To tell you the truth, I miss being at National Headquarters, going to church and worshipping with friends, and also being close to my family. Even in these days, we don’t have to be distant from God. He is always close and is only a prayer away, and God will get us through it all because we are His children and because He loves us.

I want to be like the deer David wrote about, who longs for a drink of water from the streams in the forest: to pant (yearn) after God, to thirst after God. That is where I find satisfaction and peace. That is where I can find true hope. I pray that is your desire too!

As the Deer

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee, You alone are my heart’s desire and me long to worship Thee!

Chorus: You alone are my strength, my shield, To You alone may my spirit yield, You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship Thee!

You’re my friend and You are my brother even though You are a King, I love You more than any other so much more than anything! (Martin Nystrom)

Prayer

Thank you, God, for being the real joy giver in my life. You are the only one who can satisfy all my needs and desires. Guide each of us all during this time and make Yourself real and present as we wait on You and your power for our lives. Amen.