Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 42:1-4
Ps 42:1-4
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
1 Peter 2:1-3
1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Just how much does a deer pant for streams of water? How much does the newborn baby crave milk? How much do we seek after the Lord and strive to have him first in our lives? Our answer to all three of these should be the same; there is no way to measure how strong this desire really is within us. The reason is simple. Without the water, the deer will die. Without milk the baby will die. Without God and his word in our lives, we will die spiritually.
Notice that Peter is writing to those who are already Christians. As the children of God we are to desire the spiritual milk (the word of God) so much that the only thing that will quench our craving is that we fill our hearts with the word, the will and the mind of God. The reason Peter gives is because we have already tasted that the Lord is good. We have already accepted his forgiveness, his salvation in Jesus. We have already seen the leading of the Spirit and the wisdom he affords in our hearts and lives. We have enjoyed the peace that surpasses understanding and known the joy that is only found in our Lord. How could we not be filled with a craving, a longing for more spiritual nourishment?
It is this filling up of God in our hearts that helps us rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, of hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. We turn all our problems (including our enemies) over to God and let him have his way with us.
O God, giver of life and all good things, I thank you for your wonderful goodness shown to me in more ways than I can possibly count or even know. You bless me so abundantly with fellow Christians who support me and encourage me. Help me trust you in all things. I ask a special prayer for those who are hurting from the loss of those they love. Give them your peace and comfort. Give me the right words to say to encourage those who are down and those who are struggling to be faithful to you. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior and my Lord.
Robert
