Greatest Desire
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God” Psalm 42:1-2
INSIGHT
What is your greatest desire? Nothing like a loaded question to start off your day. But, how you answer this question is important. It reveals a great deal about your priorities, and, sometimes without you even knowing it, influences the direction and course of your pursuits. When I reflect on certain seasons of life, my priorities were built around my greatest desires. In high school, I put so much effort into my cadet training in order to achieve a high rank. In my current season, I am constantly putting effort into learning how to be a better husband/dad/Christ-follower. I listen to sermons, read books, chat with people, and any other avenue I can to fulfill what I consider to be my greatest desires.
When you desire something you go after it at all costs. You build your schedule around it and don’t allow any obstacle to get in your way. David, the author of this Psalm, used a metaphor to describe his desire for God. “As a deer pants…” is eye-catching because we do not use the verb “pants” often. The verb pants is similar to thirst but on a much higher level. When you are simply thirsty, you will be fine if you are not given a drink immediately. To pant for a drink, on the other hand, means without some immediate relief the situation could be devastating.
David’s soul longed for God from a place of desperation. Like our bodies desperately need water to survive and function, so our souls desperately need God to survive. Have you ever noticed that your greatest desires here on this earth never find fulfillment or satisfaction?
We know far too well the amount of energy, effort, and time that goes into pursuing our greatest desire. We also know far too well that the moment we reach that greatest desire that the clock starts ticking. It is a temporary satisfaction and we’re left wanting and needing more. Before we know it, we are already replacing that one desire with another and find ourselves chugging along the endless cycle of unfulfilled desires of the world.
But when God is our greatest desire, we will be satisfied. Jesus said it like this: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). Righteous means a right-standing before God, and that is achieved not with our effort, but our willingness to trust that through the sacrifice of Jesus we’re made whole.
The only promise of satisfaction is when we direct our hunger, thirst, and desire towards God. By shifting all of our efforts and resources towards our desperate longing for God, life looks radically different. Unlike the world’s desires that lead to empty places, our fulfillment in Christ is tied to a Greater Source. When we walk with God we realize that all of our longings and desires find their resting place in Him.
REFLECTION
What is your greatest desire? What are you willing to do for that desire?
What actions can you do to move towards viewing God as your greatest desire?
PRAYER
Father, as I seek the desires of my heart, may I remember that You are my greatest desire. When the temptation of this world rises up, I ask that You bring me back to You. I know, trust, and believe that in You alone, I am satisfied. I am grateful for all that You are Father, and I am grateful You are always the better choice. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.
