O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.
Psalms 63:1-11 NLT
David was hiding in the desert, on the run for his life. His mind must have been racing, but he didn’t focus on himself. He focused on the Lord. His soul (in the desert) thirsted for God more than water. He didn’t know how long he would live, but he promised to praise his King with songs of joy. Even when he was on the run, David continued to focus on his Savior, constantly worshiping his God.
The psalms make it clear that we can complain to God. Lament, anger, and frustration are part of a relationship with the Lord. This psalm challenges us in a different direction—can you praise the Lord even when you are in the desert? Can you have peace even when the future is uncertain? Will you stay focused on God in a world with millions of distractions? The answers to these questions determine our levels of joy, peace, and hope. Go back through those three questions and make a commitment to consistency with Christ.
As you reflect on the three prior questions, which one will strengthen your faith as you commit to living it out today?
