Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year Twoਨਮੂਨਾ

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God (Psalm 42:1 NKJV).

Do you long for God?

We sing a song at church derived from Psalm 42:1 (NKJV) with a line of the song saying “As the deer pants for the water…” One day, a young man asked me with all seriousness, “What are deer pants?” Although today I won’t address clothing for deer, let me explain the meaning of “pants.” The term refers to a strong and audible thirsting. As a parched deer strongly and loudly pants for water, we should equally desire the Lord.

Psalm 63:1 (NKJV) also depicts this longing: “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land.” We should cultivate a passionate desire for God’s presence, just like the psalmist who wrote, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:2 NKJV). Let’s seek the Lord with every fiber of our being.

Employment Point: Long for the Lord’s presence as the dehydrated deer pants for water.