“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” Psalm 42:1-4 NLT
Living God,
Longing, a yearning desire? Aching, craving, hungering, thirsting. The Psalmist picks thirsting and thinks of a deer, hot and dehydrated. Sometimes I know that longing, like when You feel distant and when my thoughts are confused and my faith is a bit wavery, (you know what I mean). My longing is at other times a small ache or a craving, like the need for chocolate (or cheese when in a savoury mood).
I think back to the times when Your Holy Spirit has touched me and I have known Your presence in an almost tangible way. The Psalmist talks about looking back to being in the centre of fabulous worship processing in the Temple. Not that we look back longing for the past, but we look back to reassure ourselves You do touch our lives. Some times we are not even aware of it r take it for granted.
So we long with faith that You will allow us to experience Your presence in a very real way in the land of the living. Even though we know You never actually leave us! Come Lord and touch our hearts and whisper Your presence in the least expected moments. Help us to be aware.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Living God,
Touch the lives of our family, friends, colleagues, neighbours with the reality of Your presence and deep, deep love. Meet their needs today.
Show Your presence in our world and bring an end to war in Ukraine and Russia. Bring repentance and restoration in place of killing.
We pray for our King and his family. We pray for our Parliament. You know what is needed and what is right and what is wrong. Be Lord there. And we pray You will lead and bless where there is good will and determination to do right.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 1st September 2023
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything
I am longing
I am longing . . .
Lyrics: Martin J. Nystrom