Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you (Psalm 143:6, CEV).

Rideau River, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is thirst.

As I searched about my repertoire of pictures, I realized I don’t have any desert photos to go with today’s verse from the Psalms.  

Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you (Psalm 143:6, CEV).

While I don’t have desert pictures, my soul has walked through desert places—lifeless places where faith and hope are dry and shriveled or absent entirely. If we have walked with the Lord for any length of time, we undoubtedly have experience periods of dryness. They are times when we need to call out to God in prayer.

Though we hate to admit it, we may need times of dryness. We need the desert experience so our roots grow deep—so we seek God with a sense of urgency—a true thirst for Him.

The good news is there are streams of water that flow from the Lord. Jesus announced, “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say” (John 7:37-38, CEV).

Response: Lord Jesus, give me that life-giving water. I want to become a fountain of blessing for those around me. I put my faith in you. You are my source—the wellspring of life. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you gone through desert places? Did you meet Jesus there?