Life can be exhausting. But, as long as I try to survive independently of the One who made me, I will fail. But, if I live by grace alone and in HIS Strength, then He will live through me.
I read Ps 42 last night. I then wanted to follow that up with a study of thirst and dehydration. This is what I found online:
Fluid loss may even be severe enough to become life-threatening.
Basic fluid intake serves to replace the fluids which are required to perform our normal bodily functions.
Dehydration can be defined as "the excessive loss of water from the body."
Ps 42.1-2a says "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."
I remember my trip to the PacRim. We reclaimed wells for the tsunami victims. Their water was filled with black sludge. If we wanted to drink any water, we first had to boil it then refrigerate it. We took a bath in the water - pre-boiling stage. We have all the opportunities in the world in this country to have clean and purified water. But, yet often we don't drink enough.
Put that in Spiritual terms - God has given us unlimited gracious opportunities for us to know and commune with Him. Why don't we? Why don't we continually drink so we never get parched?
Ps 42.4 : These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
I can remember good growing times in the Word and in fellowship with my God. But, why don't I let that remembrance of His goodness compel me to meet with Him everyday. I get so independent from Him.
I love the focus on these next two verses: (5, 11)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
so often I think who I am is determined by what I do or my position or relationships. I am only possessed and bought by God - that is where my position comes from. I am bought with a price.
Therefore, I shouldn't place my hope in any other thing - only in God and His goodness, mercies, and wonders that He works in my life - and more importantly what He did for me on the cross.
As I continued to read, I also picked up These Strange Ashes again and Valley of Vision:
"I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely with thee, every sin calling for Christ's precious blood. Revive deep spirituality in my heart. Let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear his voice, know its tons, follow its calls. See Jesus as the essence of the Gospel. Sin makes me forget thee. Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee, that all else is trifling. Abide in me, gracious God."
I read Ps 42 last night. I then wanted to follow that up with a study of thirst and dehydration. This is what I found online:
Fluid loss may even be severe enough to become life-threatening.
Basic fluid intake serves to replace the fluids which are required to perform our normal bodily functions.
Dehydration can be defined as "the excessive loss of water from the body."
Ps 42.1-2a says "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."
I remember my trip to the PacRim. We reclaimed wells for the tsunami victims. Their water was filled with black sludge. If we wanted to drink any water, we first had to boil it then refrigerate it. We took a bath in the water - pre-boiling stage. We have all the opportunities in the world in this country to have clean and purified water. But, yet often we don't drink enough.
Put that in Spiritual terms - God has given us unlimited gracious opportunities for us to know and commune with Him. Why don't we? Why don't we continually drink so we never get parched?
Ps 42.4 : These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
I can remember good growing times in the Word and in fellowship with my God. But, why don't I let that remembrance of His goodness compel me to meet with Him everyday. I get so independent from Him.
I love the focus on these next two verses: (5, 11)
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
so often I think who I am is determined by what I do or my position or relationships. I am only possessed and bought by God - that is where my position comes from. I am bought with a price.
Therefore, I shouldn't place my hope in any other thing - only in God and His goodness, mercies, and wonders that He works in my life - and more importantly what He did for me on the cross.
As I continued to read, I also picked up These Strange Ashes again and Valley of Vision:
"I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely with thee, every sin calling for Christ's precious blood. Revive deep spirituality in my heart. Let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear his voice, know its tons, follow its calls. See Jesus as the essence of the Gospel. Sin makes me forget thee. Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee, that all else is trifling. Abide in me, gracious God."
1 comment:
What an encouraging post. Thanks!
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