As the deer pants for the water brook, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 42: 1-2 (NASB)
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I heard a speaker at a men’s retreat once say that he wakes each morning and runs to the cross of Christ.
He wakes up and runs, not walks, to the cross….to Jesus.
Wow. What a stunning visual.
That made me stop and ask:
Who or what am I running to first each day?
Do I see myself as even needing to run to anyone for anything – or do I think I have my life together sufficiently already?….you know, things are pretty good I guess.”
In reading Psalm 119, I discovered similar language to my friend’s.
Blessed are they who keep His testimonies, and who seek, inquire for and of Him and crave Him with the whole heart. Psalm 119:2 (AMP)
I opened my mouth and panted (with eager desire), for I longed for your commandments. Psalm 119: 131 (AMP)
Teach me good judgement, wise and right discernment, and knowledge, for I have believed (trusted, relied on, and clung to) Your commandments. Psalm 119: 66 (AMP)
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Do we long for God, do we cry out for Him, do we pant for Him, cling to Him, crave Him?
Or do we crave and cry out for the things of the world?
Here are some things I sometimes crave:
- Food
- Rest
- Water
- Attention
- Belonging
- Acceptance
- Money
- Consistency in this world
- Healthy relationships
- Answers
- Stability
- Good habits
- Wisdom
- Football
We all have cravings. Some of them are for things of the world and some are for the things of God.
So, what’s the answer?
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
I want my mind to be transformed to crave God, to crave God’s things, to pant after Him, cling to Him, run to Him, seek Him, thirst for Him…to be “less, so He can be more”. I find that when I put Him first everything else I think I need settles into its proper place.
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Prayer
Lord, help me to crave You, thirst after You, cling to You, pant for You. Help me oh Father God to seek first Your kingdom, to renew my mind, to put You before all my worldly desires and needs. Transform me, mold me, break me, teach me. Help me to seek Your kingdom first, to crave You first. Lord I need help doing this as our cultures thousands of daily messages tell me to fulfill my desires via products and services. No! No oh God. May ALL my desires be found in You alone!
In Christ’s name, Amen
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Photo courtesy of All Creative Commons License by Shanaka Aravinda.
