Too often we have relished the idea of spending time with God to being an obligation. Somewhere along the way we have let the idea of spending time with the Creator of the Universe be a burden or just a check point on our list and not the beautiful thing that it is meant to be.
When I read Psalm 42 something stirs within my soul. Some fans at the flame that burns inside of me and it reminds me of the beauty and privilege that it is to spend time with God. To be able to know Him. To call Him friend.
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
As the rest of the Psalm unfolds we see that the writer is in anguish and distress. He obviously is going through a troubled time and the only place that he's able to find hope and solace is in the presence of the Lord.
Often the hard times are the easiest times for us to dwell in the presence of God. We are troubled and want relief and so we begin to push in and long to be in His presence. Sadly though our longing can be more about a fix to our troubles than it is about simply spending time with God.
I challenge you and myself to view time with God as the beautiful and privileged thing that it is. Let us speak the beginning words of Psalm 42 not only in the tough times but in the mundane and joyous times as well. May we be women who cannot wait to spend time in the presence of the Lord on a daily basis. May we pant and thirst for God, His Word, and time with Him. May Psalm 42 fan the flame inside your soul today!
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