Do You Believe?
Brought out of slavery in Egypt. Saved from lions. Victorious in battle. The Word of God is full of stories of deliverance, full of accounts of God showing Himself strong as the Deliverer of His people. He hears His people's cry. He delivers them from their distress. We see it again and again.
But, do you believe it?
Do you truly believe God rescued an entire community from slavery and delivered them from a pursuing army by creating a pathway through the sea? Do you believe He’s the same God you can speak to right now?
Do you believe Jesus gave sight to a man who was born blind? Do you believe He is still able to perform miracles?
Do you believe a man who plotted murder against God’s people could suddenly, miraculously have a change of heart and become one of His greatest advocates? God did that with Saul who became Paul. When you think of the most wicked people in the world today, do you believe God could save and change them in the same way?
The God who is with you right now is the same God who delivered in every one of those circumstances. He can deliver you, too!
Desiring God’s Presence
Take a moment to think about your desires in life. Make a mental list of all of the things you want to accomplish. Think about your top priorities and where you think you should spend your time.
Now, go back over your list and consider how many of your desires included spending time with God. Did any of your accomplishments require being in God’s presence?
The writer of Psalm 42 compares himself to a deer that is longing for water. The deer is weary and parched without it, and so all it wants is to find a stream to drink from.
In a similar way, the Psalmist is weary and exhausted from life. He is under pressure and growing tired. And yet, his innermost desire is for God.
Just like the deer desires water, the psalmist’s soul desires the presence of God. He knows that the solution to his problems is not more accomplishments and praise—it’s spending time in the presence of God.
It’s not wrong to have desires and goals in life. But our foremost desire should be ...