We Thirst for You – Psalm 143:5-6

5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. – Psalm 143:5-6 (NLT)

David is thinking back on God’s faithfulness and how He has supported him in difficult circumstances in the past. He is meditating, deliberately focusing on God’s goodness and His great works. Realizing that God will keep acting faithfully now and, in the future, brings reassurance, for God is truly trustworthy.

David is raising his empty hands to God in verse 6. In order to reach out spiritually and acknowledge our dependence on God, we must also raise our hands in prayer. We declare our faith in God’s strength and power while acknowledging our weakness and realizing that we cannot do it on our own.

You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. Psalm 63:1 (CEV)

We long for the Lord, or as David says, we thirst for the Lord. We yearn for His guidance and help. It is a spiritual thirst, a deep longing in our hearts to draw close to the Lord and to experience a true spiritual life. We yearn for His presence, guidance, and righteousness. For God our Father defends us, sustains us, and rescues us. When we actively seek God and trust in Him, He will satisfy the thirst of our souls.

I remembered the old days,
went over all you’ve done, pondered the ways you’ve worked,
Stretched out my hands to you,
as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain. – Psalm 143:5-6 (MSG)

Our Heavenly Father, we remember and thank You for Your faithfulness to us. We marvel at Your power, Your mighty works, and Your grace. We lift our hands and hearts to you for You are our hope, our strength and our redeemer. As plants thirst for water to survive, we thirst for You and Your guidance. In Jesus holy name. Amen

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Loving-Kindness: Lamentations 3:22-23

22 The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NASB)

Oh Lord, great is thy faithfulness. Reading this verse from Lamentations the hymn “Great is Your Faithfulness” came to mind. Upon checking the lyrics of the hymn, are based on Lamentations 3:22-23. What a wonderful feeling to know that God’s compassion for us never fails. As the hymn says, His compassions are new every morning, summer and winter springtime and fall (harvest). Other things in our life change. However, God’s loving-kindness doesn’t change. God provides, He is faithful, He is loving, He is merciful. Lord, we praise and thank you for your infinite faithfulness.

How would God view your faithfulness to Him?

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for your faithful loving-kindness toward us. May our love toward you be bright and sunny like the bright yellow mums. Teach us to realize and accept that You will take care of us. As the blossoms of the mum gather together, let us gather together in praise for You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

A link to Chris Rice singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness, written by Thomas Chisholm.