SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 63:1.     O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful morning; the birds are up, giving thanks and singing praises, the flowers are awaking in splendour to the warmth and light of the early morning sun. In other words, the day is slowly coming awake and showing the glory of God. What about us eh, God’s greatest creation? Are we coming awake too, and if so, are we participating in displaying the glory of God? I sure hope so, for as Bruh David rightly declares in this psalm, God satisfies the thirsty soul. It’s a psalm symbolically written while he was hiding out in the wilderness of Judah. And our Bit boldly proclaims: ‘O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.’ Oh Friends, what a beautiful, heartfelt longing for God, Bruh David acknowledges! But let’s break it down section by section, starting at the top: ‘O God, thou art my God.’ Wow! A definitive statement of fact my people! It contains no dilly-dallying or uncertainty. He’s very sure that the Lord is his God. Now that’s the first thing we need to establish everyday my brethren; that definite assurance that the Most High God Jehovah is the solid, rock-like foundation of our lives. Of that there should be no doubt in our hearts, minds and souls. Then comes the next part; ‘early will I seek thee.’ Oh Friends, that’s just as important. Why, you ask? Because seeking the Lord early, in fact as soon as we gain consciousness, is the best way to begin our day. It brings us into early communication with the Father, and helps us to begin the day on the right foot; by giving thanks and praise, while asking for blessings, guidance and safety along the day’s unknown road. Oh my people, without that early interaction with the Lord, our day will just be a haphazard, topsy-turvy, undisciplined, stressful exercise.  So please, please, if we do nothing else, let’s always try and start our day in sincere communication with our heavenly Father, remembering that He is the ONE and ONLY ONE, capable of making our paths straight in this crooked and evil world. And finally the last part of our Bit: ‘my soul thirsteth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.’ What symbolism, my brethren! Talk about using whatever you have to make your statement. Bruh David’s physical presence is in the wilderness; the dry and arid land with no water. It’s a situation unfamiliar to many of us because we’ve never had to experience parching thirst in a dry wasteland with no water readily available. But believe me, under those circumstances, the cry for water is great. And just as Bruh David’s physical thirst is great, so is the thirst, the longing in his flesh and his soul  for God; a great desire to come into God’s presence and enjoy His company. Oh Friends, do we ever feel that great desire, that strong compulsion to get with the God of our fathers, and just revel in His presence? We ought to. A true yearning for God brings out the best in us and certainly helps those around us to understand the great joy to be found in His presence. As the psalmist so boldly declares in Psalm 42; an intense longing for God: ‘As the hart panteth after (the deer longs for) the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?’ (Ps.42:1-2) Yes Friends, it’s only natural to long for God since that’s the way He wired us. We all have this empty spot in our souls marked ‘RESERVED FOR GOD,’ which only He can fill. But until we come to that realization and feel the need, the longing to fill that special place in our souls, our lives will never run right. They will always be undisciplined, angry, resentful and stressed out, because we’re caught up in the fleshly lusts of this evil world. And if you don’t believe me, then perhaps you’ll believe Jesus, when He says: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matt.5:6) Hello there people, that’s one of the Beatitudes, one of the great promises of our Saviour; if you truly seek to live right, you will be satisfied. What more can we ask eh? Not much my brethren. And on that high note, we’ll close today’s Bit. But let’s remember, everyday when we awaken, to declare that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is without a doubt, our God. Then we need to communicate with Him as early as possible, set the stage right for our day at the very beginning. Then as the day progresses, let’s keep longing for Him, wanting to share time and talent with Him, so that both our flesh and souls will stay bright and bubbly, floating along in His unconditional LOVE. Oh Friends, what a truly wonderful God we serve and worship! And getting to know Him is itself a joy. If you’ve never taken that opportunity, please do so now. It will be the wisest and most joyful decision you ever make. Much LOVE!…there’s no better feeling in all the world…than basking in the radiant glow of God’s LOVE…