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. When can I go and meet with God? Ps. 42:1–2
Lord Jesus, there’s no craving more demanding than thirst. It’s neither patient nor polite. When we get thirsty, we’re usually quick to slake its tenacious demand, one way or another.
Because this is true, we join the psalmist’s cry on this April Monday, asking you to intensify our thirst for life-giving, soul-satisfying, peace-giving fellowship with yourself. Keep us panting like the deer who will not be deterred or denied.
Jesus don’t let us be satisfied with any other drink than the draft you draw, the libation you offer, the grace-beverage you freely give. And quickly drain the broken cisterns of our own making (Jer. 2:13). Thirst is a horrible thing to waste.
If we take up King David’s query, “When can I go and meet with God?” you answer back without delay, “Right now, my beloved; do not wait. 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). If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
If we should say, “But Jesus, where can we find you?” you answer back even quicker, “Not in the law or your strivings, not in your labors or guilty regret, not in your self-loathing or vain promises; but only in the gospel. Come and fall into the rivers of my love. Stand under the cascading waterfalls of my grace. Open your heart wide to my supply, and I will fill you to overflowing with everything you need and more than you want.”
Even so and evermore, Jesus, school us well in panting after you. Make us masters in pant-theology. Keep us simultaneously both deeply thirsty for you and greatly satisfied in you. So very Amen, we pray, in your all-glorious and all-generous name.
