I was never so thirsty in my entire life. Even though my wife Sue and I brought sufficient liquids with us, multiple cans and bottles of water and soda pop, after about the first hour, it was too little, too late while traversing the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. This was in the summer when temperatures easily exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Liquids ran drier than us. We were hot, dry, and parched, plain miserable.

Later on, I learned how good it was to quench that thirst while feasting on some good food at a German restaurant near the bus park in Petra. When a gargantuan bottle of cold water gets passed around, I grab it like a drowning man clutching for a life preserver. Ah, finally, slaked with ice-cold H2O with what seemed like gallons and gallons.

Psalm 63: 1–‘O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.’ Can I identify with the feelings of the psalmist David? You bet your bottom dollar, even though I don’t like gambling.

In this verse, David ponders his relationship with the Lord. He yearns to know Him better, believing that God can meet his needs. Without the Lord, all life would dry up, fade and fly away.

That’s what happens when we lose touch with God. When Jesus becomes more of a curse word than someone deserving all our praise and thanks, with our Bible becoming a distant memory. Then we’ll have a problem. A big one. Growth stops. Withering begins. Life with our Lord Jesus ebbs farther away. Until… and if…

…I decide to get back with the One who loves me more than anyone else. I’m going home to Jesus and His Word, relishing being with God’s people, and opening our wallet to care for others’ needs. There’ve been times, sad to say, when I was far from the Lord, far from His shore where I could barely hear His voice bidding me to come back to Him. He hadn’t abandoned me. Quite the contrary.

But now I know where water can be found–abundant, tasty, clean, and refreshing. I’ve decided to drink without measure with my Master, Jesus. I’ve discovered that when I do that, any lingering thirst motivates me to spend more time by His streams. Here I’ll be blessed with more of my Lord, even in greater proportion than I can imagine.

Like the psalmist says–‘…your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live, in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy’ (Ps. 63: 3-7).

La Chaim! Bon Appetit! Drinking in and feasting on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness! Enjoy!

Thank you, Jesus, for being my all in all. Amen.