Maranatha Writers Contest 1st place devo

Thirsty Soul

I debated with myself that morning whether or not to exercise. A multitude of other to-dos remained on my agenda. Instead, I donned tennis shoes and headed in the direction of a small creek nearby.

Almost immediately, my ankle began to ache due to a recent injury. “Shall I turn around or keep going? If I could just reach my favorite spot and linger over the bridge,” I prayed. The calming water always reminded me of the words in Psalms 42:1, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Convincing myself to go a bit further, I rounded the corner and saw them. They saw me. We all froze in our tracks. About 150 feet away stood two deer pausing to quench their thirst.

An affirmation and reward appeared that morning in the form of God’s majestic creatures–almost as if God was saying, “I’m glad you took the time to seek me out.”

Ask:

Do I pant for you, Lord, like a deer pants for water? Or, am I usually in such a hurry to get going on the next thing on my list? Do I say I believe in You, yet go about my business as if I am the one in charge?

Prayer:

Dear God, I desperately need your sustaining power and mercy. I know the only way to acquire this is when I schedule time away with you every day. Now I realize my day is not complete until I meet with You. Oh, that my soul might thirst after you! Amen.

 Copyright Teresa Lasher 2009©