As the deer…
Last summer my family and I took a wonderful vacation to the Moosehead Lake region of Maine. I spent much time there as a teenager at my parents’ camp, especially during the summer months. On this vacation, we rented a rustic cabin right on the lake at Beaver Cove. The road to the cabin was a long dirt road that may have seemed a bit annoying to have to travel were it not for the opportunities to see beautiful deer grazing just feet from our vehicle. I could not help but take pictures of them as they were more than willing to pose for the camera!
One of my favorite places to read in the Bible is the book of Psalms. Recently in my devotion time I read Psalm 42:1-2.
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?”
My mind wanders back to those moments when we could all but reach out and touch those deer. I find myself asking if I truly thirst after knowing God. The Bible, the precious Word of God, is likened to water. If anyone truly is thirsty to know God, they need not run to the fridge for a bottle of water! The place to run if we are thirsty for God is His Word. I am reminded of a great verse in Hebrews 11. Verse 6 reads, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must first believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” If you are thirsty for God, I encourage you to diligently seek Him! Open the Bible and read about Jesus. God has given us this wonderful book so that we can know Him. Determine to visit a good, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church and do all you can to “panteth” after Him; diligently seek Him!
John 4 tells us of the time Jesus met a woman by Jacob’s well. He said to her in verse 10, “…If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Jesus is the one who can quench that spiritual thirst in our souls. If you “panteth after the water brooks,” look no further than unto Jesus. He is the source of living water.
There is a song we love to sing at Cornerstone Baptist Church. It is called, “As The Deer” written by Martin J. Nystrom. The first verse reads
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.