“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God.” Ps.42:1-2a
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Ps.63:1
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be satisfied.” Mt.5:6
For those who are Christ-followers, there should be a hunger and thirst for more.
I have a question I’d like to hear from you on. We often hear about “getting more of God.” Do you think we get more of God or God gets more of us? I have some thoughts but would like to hear yours.
My sermon this week is entitled “Deeper.” It stands as a transition between the end of Galatians and the beginning of my next series on “The Church Alive.” Would appreciate your prayers.
I love the picture that accompanies this one. I will be praying for you in my devotionals tomorrow morning.
… I am purposefully avoiding answering your questions because it is something that I struggle with. In my darkest times I would answer that God must be getting more from me because I ain’t getting a lick from him. I might even be in one of those darker times now. Ugh.
I seldom use pictures so it is out of place for me. But glad it “spoke” to you. As for your current time: Just don’t stop believing He is there for you.
I don’t think we get more of Him. I don’t believe Hemwithholds.
Not sure what Hemwithholds is. 🙂
As we grow in our faith, I believe we get more of God – He is always there for us and unchangeable. He loves us for who we are where we are. But it’s up to us to open fully to Him.
Prayers for you and your sermon, Bill!
Thanks for your input on the question Martha. It dawned on me that I asked it wrong, but will deal with that in a post. I do agree with your statements though.
The amount we get of God and he gets of us varies throughout our lives, but that’s not because he withholds. He doesn’t. It’s because we are so consistently inconsistent. If there’s anything the OT teaches us, it’s that God’s people (we) live out our faith in roller-coaster fashion but that God’s faithfulness remains steady regardless of our ups and downs.
I like the use of “consistently inconsistent.” I know I am. I’m grateful for a faithful and steady God.
I like to think of it this way–When I first got my computer, I didn’t know all it could do, didn’t understand how it worked, didn’t realize what a benefit it could be. But as time went on I learned all kinds of things about it! With God, I think WE draw closer as we get to know Him better and realize what that relationship with Him really means. HE is always there but we just don’t realize His faithfulness and the potential He instills in us if we will just make an effort to get to know Him better.
Good analogy Pam. Getting to know God deeper is an ongoing and ever-learning process.
Interesting question brother. A conversation we had recently with a couple whose son and daughter in law are now serving in Papua New Guinea. Listening to them tell how through the years they supported missionaries and enjoyed having them in their home caused their understanding to grow about missionaries. Now that they have kids over there, their circle of understanding has gotten much bigger because they are searching out things about living overseas in a country like PNG. We told them when they go visit their kids and view for themselves their circle of understanding will really get big. Since God’s picture is always big but He on purpose works through our limited view of Him. As we expose ourselves to Him, His word, step out in faith to obey Him, walk through deep waters, our understanding of Him grows. His never needs to grow or expand , it’s us who always need to grow and expand our understanding. Which is one reason heaven will be so sweet, no more veil of flesh to get in the way…we no longer will have to hide behind a rock like Moses to see God pass by. We will fully experiences all of Him, now it’s the fringes of Him we see. The awesome part is He understand ALL OF US, yet still love us. That motivate me to go deeper. Good question Bill.
What a great answer Betty! Your friends will certainly grasp more when they experience PNG for themselves. And there is no question our picture of God will/should expand as we grow in Him. Thanks.
As I read your first couple of sentences I was reminded of one of my favorite worship songs: AS THE DEER. Even though I haven’t played with a worship group for several years now I still like to plunk that song out at home on my piano.
To answer your question though: Since God is always present and waiting for us to seek Him, I think that as we give God more of us we will receive more of Him. He doesn’t need us, we need Him so it seems to me that as I give Him more of me, He reciprocates. God becomes greater, I become less …