When do you crave and thirst for water the most? It’s when you are parched and depleted of hydration. It is the same with our spiritual thirst and craving for the Lord. The thirst level is rising in God’s people to drink deeply of the living water and to be immersed in a fresh baptism of his love.
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” Psalm 63:1
This verse sums up what many people are experiencing in this hour. You have known the Lord and have seen his power and felt his glory many times, but it feels like someone turned the tap of living water off, and “your soul thirsts for him.”
You’ve done everything you know to do. You have wondered if you’ve done something to grieve him away. You’ve searched your heart and asked His Spirit to search your heart, but still— everything remains dry and you remain thirsty.
I, too, have been experiencing this. You are not alone. But I take great comfort in the fact that God has not changed and that he has promised to never leave or forsake his people. Therefore, I go back to Psalm 63:1 and do what the last part of that verse says that David did,
…Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
Just because your emotions aren’t experiencing those amazing feelings that usually accompany your times of prayer and praise, you must still allow your lips to glorify him! Even if you don’t feel him— pray anyway. Praise anyway! He is with you.
If you don’t praise him, then creation (even the rocks) will. He is worthy of your praise even if you were never to “feel” his tangible presence again. But take heart because you will! It won’t happen because of your strength or your will, but because of his faithfulness.
You may even be experiencing the very gifts that you’ve always operated in so easily, suddenly dry up. But do not despair or allow the lies of the enemy to cause you confusion or condemnation— keep pressing in, keep standing, and do not hold back what he is worthy of.
When I hear of this happening to so many believers, then I have to believe that something is going on behind the scenes that we just don’t see or understand yet. Maybe what he’s about to do requires that no flesh can even be tempted to take credit for it? No man’s gift or name can be attached to it? Only Jesus!
It is always good to ask the Holy Spirit to search you and remove anything that is unclean or even no longer useful. But don’t get stuck in “navel gazing” too long because your lips need to be glorifying him much more than judging your own life by what you are feeling (or not feeling).
Press in! Wait for him and allow yourself to thirst for him. Read the scriptures aloud so that your soul is saturated in truth— because it will not return void. Fill the void feelings with that which will never leave you void.
Your faith in the unseen (and even unfelt) is being strengthened. Truth is restoring and strengthening your foundation. Thirst is causing you to search for the living water. And allowing your lips to glorify him when you aren’t emotionally driven is teaching you soul obedience and honor.
So put on all of God’s armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.” Ephesians 6:13
“and having done all, stand firm”
That is what you are to do: “Stand firm.”
You’ve tried everything else, so now put on his armor and continue to stand.
You will make it through this time— just remember, he is with you always!
Kathi’s new book SEVEN LETTERS has just been released. Within the pages of this book is the counsel of the Lord for His Church— yesterday, today, and forever.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
Featured Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
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