Today marks the third Sunday in our Lenten journey. One of the Scripture readings for today is Psalm 63:1-8.
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. -Psalm 63:1, NLT
What is it like to be thirsty? Can you think of a time when you have been truly parched with no water around to drink? What was that experience like? How did it feel when your thirst was finally quenched? This psalm invites us to imagine our longing for God as yearning for water in the middle of a parched, barren desert. What does it look like to yearn for God in this way? How is this thirst for God quenched?
Just as quenching physical thirst requires us to take action- drinking water, quenching our thirst for God requires us to take action as well. We must decide to be with him and dwell in his presence, acknowledging and being aware of God’s presence with us on a moment by moment basis. Practically, this looks like connecting with God through prayer throughout the day but also in moments of praise and thanksgiving and remembering God’s faithfulness, love, and work in our midst.
As we step into this week, spend some time reflecting on Psalm 63:1-8. Read the words of this psalm, paying attention to the words and phrases that catch your attention. Even take a few moments to doodle what scenes come to your imagination as you read.
This Psalm has been set to music by many songwriters over the years. Below is Fernando Ortega’s version.
