Psalm 42:2

New International Version (NIV)

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

For meditation

The Psalmist, in his poignant words, expresses a deep yearning for God’s presence, asking when he could go to meet Him in the temple (Psalm 42:1). This intense desire, like a fish out of water, is a palpable yearning to leave the dry place and enter God’s presence, the fountain of life, from whose presence flows streams of living water.

God is not just a part of his life, but the very essence of his being. The Psalmist has cultivated an intimate and dependent life with Him, which he cherishes. He thirsts for God as for water in the desert, especially when he cannot sense His presence (Psalm 42:2).

Today is Tuesday, the second day after that Spirit-filled worship service, where the Holy Spirit immersed us in Christ. Are you feeling a dryness already? Did dawn bring a yearning to be in His Presence for a closer and more intimate fellowship through the week?

Thank God for the Holy Spirit and the written Word; we don’t have to go into a physical building to secure His presence. Our bodies are His temple (1 Corinthians 6: 19).

Life has bumps and challenges of many kinds, and today is no exception. Perhaps it’s a tough conversation with a loved one, a demanding work project, or a health issue. Whatever it is, remember that dryness will come as you struggle through the busyness of your day. What will you miss the most, and what will you reach out for in those moments?

Imagine a stroll with Jesus through the woods, with the backdrop of waterfalls and chirping birds at such times. Isn’t that refreshing? Can you make that your experience with Christ in the word and prayer?

As a beloved disciple of Jesus, He has intricately woven your life into His, so you should miss Him when something drives a wedge between you and Him.

Paul said it this way.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Jesus was Paul’s life, and ours too, as believers.

Our Lord sought closeness with the Father while on earth, and He calls us to the same desire for intimacy with Him every day, especially when the going gets tough.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” when they got so busy that they could not “even have a chance to eat (Mk. 6:31)?” This is the closeness He wants for us as His disciples, a time of rest and rejuvenation in His presence.

May we accept this call and step away with our Lord to a quiet place for Him to strengthen, refresh, and refocus us each day.

Shalom