“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God” (Psalm 42:1)
An Edmonton-area photographer captured a dramatic predator vs. prey chase while on a backcountry canoe and camping trip in northeastern Alberta. David Smith, with some of his friends and kids, witnessed a wolf chasing a deer into the water. He said that they heard wolves howling an hour before they heard a big splash while they were having breakfast.
Smith quickly grabbed his camera, and when he zoomed in, he saw a wolf chasing after a buck. But after one or two minutes, the wolf gave up the chase and turned around while the deer continued swimming.
There are two reasons why deer pants for the water. First, water is its source of strength and life. Like any other being, a deer can never survive without water. Second, a body of water is a safe place for a deer. He knows that when he is in the water, predators will give up chasing him.
As a deer that pants for the water so let our souls long after the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit is what gives us life. It is the living water – the Spirit that we can drink and thirst no more (John 4:14). It is what Christ offered on that great day of the feast, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” – a drink that causes rivers of living water to flow into and from us (John 7:37-39).
Do we let the hurry and busyness of this world crowd out our spiritual life?
We cannot bring healing into our lives. The psalmist says our task is not to heal our souls but to make space for them so that healing can come: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.” Let us allow ourselves to be where the still waters are and let the Shepherd of our soul refresh and restore us.
The Spirit of God also protects us from our enemies. David, fleeing from the wrath of Saul, came into Ramah where Samuel was. His enemy sent messengers to chase him, but as soon as they enter Ramah, the Spirit of God came upon them and prophesied.
And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. ( I Samuel 19:19-21)
We are, indeed, safe and secured when we are in the water. No enemy can ever harm us when we are under the shadow of the Almighty, the presence of our God.
Satan can’t stop a woman like Martha, so he gets her to do more.
Many things in our world seem like an alternative to what the Spirit offers to us. Friends are essential, but their presence can never satisfy the longings of our heart. Vacations may take us away from the struggles for a while, but they never solve the problems we face. Dependency on some sort of chemicals may seem pleasurable, but these pleasures are temporary. Only the Spirit of God can give us life. Only His Spirit can make us secured.
Do we allow ourselves to come into and enjoy the presence of God every day? Or do we let the hurry and busyness of this world crowd out our spiritual life? Satan can’t stop a woman like Martha, so he gets her to do more. When we become worried and troubled about many things, let’s remember Jesus’s words to Martha: “One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Choose the good part. Choose to be in His presence.
As a deer that pants for the water so let our souls long after the Spirit of God.
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