More Than a Believer

As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty for you, my God.
2 In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God.
When will I see your face?
3 Day and night my tears are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking, “Where is your God?”

4 Sorrow floods my heart,
when I remember leading the worshipers to your house.
I can still hear them shout their joyful praises.
5 Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you!
And I will praise you again because you help me,
6 and you are my God.

I am deeply discouraged as I think about you
from where the Jordan begins at Mount Hermon and from Mount Mizar.
7 Your vicious waves have swept over me like an angry ocean or a roaring waterfall.

8 Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you,
the living Lord God.

9 You are my mighty rock.
Why have you forgotten me? Why must enemies mistreat me and make me sad?
10 Even my bones are in pain,
while all day long my enemies sneer and ask, “Where is your God?”

11 Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you!
And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God.         Psalm 42 (CEV)

Lectionary texts: 1 Kings 19:1-15, Psalm 42, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 8:26-39

The lectionary texts this week are timely for me. There are so many prayer requests that I have laid before my LORD. So many seemingly insurmountable needs. Only my LORD can know what is best for each person and I trust Him for it.

1 Kings 19: 1-15 “I have had enough.” Ever feel like that? I have certainly felt like Elijah. There are seasons that are difficult when I feel like every day is a 20-hour work day. There are even days when I feel no one is encouraging us. Elijah went off and isolated himself under a broom tree.

God is faithful. He didn’t leave Elijah to sulk under the tree. He doesn’t leave me to wallow in my pity party when things get rough. God wants me to come to His mountain. He wants me to call out and in His still, calm voice – He answers.

Luke 8:26-39 Jesus set this man free from a legion of demons. He is so grateful that he wants to stay with Jesus, travel with Him. I want to just stay with Jesus too. The other night I was praying and this warmth came over me. It was like being wrapped in a soft blanket. I knew the presence of God was all around me. I wanted to stay like that forever.

God likes those times when we are so close, too. But God keeps the bigger picture in His vision. He never forgets all His children who are out there hurting and alone. He wants me to spend time with Him but He also wants me to go and share what He has taught me and done for me with others.

Galatians 3:23-29 Paul says that once all we had was the Law to keep us safe in God’s way. It was the Commandments given only to God’s Chosen People. Now we have Jesus. And in Jesus there is an open door for all equally.

This seems like such an obvious concept for Jesus’ Church but we rarely allow children an active part in our worship, no teens are part of the planning and implementing process of our local congregations, and laity are not equal partners in ministry with the ordained. When will we trust God that He knows best and wants us to step out and follow His plan? He did not send the demon-posessed man to seminary before He told him to “Go and tell everyone what God has done for you.” Let us equip and empower and release our children and women and men to share the Good News of Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit.

How I thirst for my LORD! People are desperate for someone like Jesus in their life but they need to know that He is “big enough.” He is all that I need no matter what problems and difficulties may come. Let us stop minimizing our LORD and instead magnify who He truly is. If someone should wonder, “Where is your God?” I can quickly answer, “Right here with me.”

Satisfied with You written by Andy Park and sung by Lindell Cooley