Joey's Journal - September 17, 2006
Lord God, I thank You for being with us and watching over us last night. Thank You for giving the children a good night’s sleep and rest for the nannies. This morning, I offer You my thoughts, works, joys and sufferings; may they be acceptable and pleasing to You. May Your wisdom be with me as I continue to record my reflections starting with Book Two of Psalms. Lord, may You guide my thoughts to what You intend for me to say. I pray that my focus will be on You and that You will take away all anxieties and distractions that the evil one tempts me with and strengthen me to stand up and rebuke these traps. All these I pray. Amen.
My Reading - Psalm 42
I thirst for God, the living God
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and stand before him? Day and night, I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshippers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks – it was the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I so discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness – from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
‘O God my rock,’ I cry, ‘Why have you forsaken me? Why must I wander in darkness, oppressed by my enemies?’ Their taunts pierce me like a fatal wound. They scoff, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!
My Reflection – What a fitting simile (figure of speech) comparing a deer’s thirst for water and King David’s thirst for the living God! Just as the deer seeks water after escaping the traps of a predator, we also seek our Father’s living water after combating the enemy. Yes, the spiritual warfare with the enemy is very frequent because he is relentless and trying to derail us from the righteous path. We stumble and fall because of our human weaknesses but, if we have our Father’s living water in us, meaning the Holy Spirit, we will not grow ‘thirsty’ but be ‘stronger’ to fight the temptation from the evil one. The enemy will not have a stronghold on us if we are focused on God’s righteousness. No matter how strong his traps are through evil desires and thoughts, if we are dedicated to following the Ways of God, we will be triumphant over the enemy. So, it is good to thirst for the living God!
My Prayer – Lord, let me seek You. Let me long for You. And, let me thirst for You. During those times, I struggle with thoughts and desires planted by the evil one, let me yearn more of You and Your unfailing love and compassion. Let Your suffering and eventful death on the Cross remind me that You delivered me from my sins; You have forgiven me and that You await my restoration in Your presence. As I go through my remaining years, may I only seek and thirst for You, O living God. All these I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
by Joey B.
My Reading - Psalm 42
I thirst for God, the living God
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and stand before him? Day and night, I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshippers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks – it was the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I so discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness – from Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
‘O God my rock,’ I cry, ‘Why have you forsaken me? Why must I wander in darkness, oppressed by my enemies?’ Their taunts pierce me like a fatal wound. They scoff, ‘Where is this God of yours?’ Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!
My Reflection – What a fitting simile (figure of speech) comparing a deer’s thirst for water and King David’s thirst for the living God! Just as the deer seeks water after escaping the traps of a predator, we also seek our Father’s living water after combating the enemy. Yes, the spiritual warfare with the enemy is very frequent because he is relentless and trying to derail us from the righteous path. We stumble and fall because of our human weaknesses but, if we have our Father’s living water in us, meaning the Holy Spirit, we will not grow ‘thirsty’ but be ‘stronger’ to fight the temptation from the evil one. The enemy will not have a stronghold on us if we are focused on God’s righteousness. No matter how strong his traps are through evil desires and thoughts, if we are dedicated to following the Ways of God, we will be triumphant over the enemy. So, it is good to thirst for the living God!
My Prayer – Lord, let me seek You. Let me long for You. And, let me thirst for You. During those times, I struggle with thoughts and desires planted by the evil one, let me yearn more of You and Your unfailing love and compassion. Let Your suffering and eventful death on the Cross remind me that You delivered me from my sins; You have forgiven me and that You await my restoration in Your presence. As I go through my remaining years, may I only seek and thirst for You, O living God. All these I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
by Joey B.
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