“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” Ps. 42:1–2
Lord Jesus, there’s no craving more demanding than thirst. It’s neither patient nor polite. It doesn’t “take a number and wait.” We will slake our thirst—one way or another, wisely or foolishly. We will turn to broken cisterns that hold no water (Jer. 2:13)—people, approval, religion, success, more of something, the list goes on.
Or we’ll look to you. On this October Monday, we lace-up our running shoes, and run to you, Jesus. Intensify our thirst for life-giving, soul-satisfying, peace-giving fellowship with yourself. We want to be experts in “pant-theology”—panting after you with the heart-fluttering joy of a Bride, and the unshakable certainty of your love.
Indeed, renew, revivify, reinvigorate, restore to us the sweetest and deepest fellowship we’ve ever enjoyed with you. And then, take us into such new vistas of intimacy with yourself, our hearts will beat faster than ever, and will singularly beat for you.
You still stand and cry out in a loud voice, “If you’re thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, streams of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). Thank you, Lord Jesus. Keep us simultaneously deeply thirsty for you, and greatly satisfied in you. So very Amen, we pray, in your all-glorious and all-generous name.
