“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.”
Dear Jesus, this Psalm is a welcoming oasis in a 117-degree sun-blazing desert, a free-for-all fountain welcoming the mercy-dehydrated. It’s an artesian spring of living water opened for our parched hearts. Thank you, and may it be. We don’t need a 16.9-ounce plastic-bottle of grace; we want to gather under the Niagara Falls of the healing, satisfying, cleansing waters of your grace.
“I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.” – Jesus, we see you the best in the sanctuary of the Gospel. There, we discover you to be more glorious than we ever imagined, more loving than we dared hoped, and more ready to slake (again and again) this deep whole-body thirst.
“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” – Jesus, your love doesn’t just give us a great life, your love is better than life itself. When we are most alive to your love, our worries shrivel, our shame shrinks, and our hope thrives. Your love is as unwavering as it is limitless, as liberating and it is lavish.
“I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” – Embarrassed to raise our hands to you? Heck no, Jesus! We lift all that we have and are to you. For you alone are worthy of our adoration and affection.
“You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” – Jesus, there is no feast or banquet, no riches or inheritance, no relationship or romance that can satisfy us the way you do. Thank you, and So Very Amen.
