Psalm 143:1-12 In this psalm David said, “I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land” (v. 6). Recently we have gone through a severe drought where I live. As I looked on our land, I saw cracks in the earth, and they seemed to be crying out, “Fill me, fill me.” The earth was cracked because there was no moisture to spare it from the burning rays of the sunshine. David was going through a dry time, and the land of his soul felt parched, dry and cracked for lack of the rain of God’s Spirit.
Sometimes God allows a dry time in our lives just so we can have a new appreciation for the work of His Spirit as He refreshes us and quenches our thirst as we read God’s Word. Thank God the dry times in my life never lasted too long. I don’t think I could have survived if they did. During those dry times, it seemed I could receive nothing from God. I knew He was still with me, but my prayer life and my Bible reading became duties instead of delight. In most of these dry times, I discovered the Lord was longing to restore fellowship with me. He had not moved, but I was allowing my lack of feeling to dictate my relationship to the Lord. It is at the dry times of our lives when we honor God the most if we continue to read the Word, pray and commit our days to Him because this takes great faith. We don’t have the delight, but we still are willing to discipline ourselves to a time daily with the Lord. If we are faithful not to abandon our quiet times during dry times, suddenly the river will begin to flow to fill and refresh those cracked, parched areas of our soul.
Do you realize that God thirsts for you? He longs to fellowship with you daily. When Jesus cried out “I thirst” on the cross, He was crying out for the Spirit of God to quench His thirst. At that moment in time it seemed all had forsaken Him, and even God for a moment turned away from Him. Jesus was thirsting for fellowship with the Father and for fellowship with you and me. Jesus said “I thirst” just after He cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” John records these words about the cross: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst'” (John 19:28).
Jesus on the cross accomplished everything for our sakes that we will ever need to overcome the world. Healing, forgiveness, salvation and wholeness in every way were accomplished. Now Jesus thirsts for us to come to Him daily to obtain and receive all He has promised. He longs to fellowship with you. Even when you are in a dry place, your prayers are welcomed and your praise delights the heart of the Lord. If you continue in the discipline of a daily quiet time when you are in a dry land, you will soon feel the arms that have been around you all the time—the precious arms of Jesus. Will you quench His thirst for fellowship with you today?
Lord, I come in faith to You, and even though I feel nothing, I know You are near.
READ: Zechariah 6:1-7:14; Revelation 15:1-8; Psalm 143:1-12; Proverbs 30:24-28
