Stay in Love with God

Psalm 63:1 O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips 6 when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (NRSV)

Yesterday's front page story in our local paper told how a county south of us has now become the number one place of undocumented migrant deaths, most of them due to thirst and starvation. What does not help is that we are still suffering from a severe drought. Areas where creeks and lakes used to have water are now dust remnants of them. There is nothing worse than to suffer thirst and not have any water with which to quench it. To have that same sort of thirst for God is just as bad if we cannot find God; yet all it takes is to find God and that thirst is quenched. During those days when we found ourselves alienated from God and had a thirsting to find God's love, to find God is to find that quenching that satisfies. Once found, we should stay in love with God. For those who are familiar with John Wesley's Three Simple Rules, this is the third one. The first is to do no harm. The second is to do good. To stay in love with God is to receive love that cannot stay within us, it must be shared and lived out.

The psalmist knew that love. He also knew alienation from God caused by bad decisions to be as bad as a non-satifisfied thirst; he knew God was God, even his, but could not be found during this time away from God. He knew thirst in the soul and even thirst in the body that caused him to be faint. His quest for God led him to the sanctuary where he was able to see God's power and glory and realized the awesomeness of God's love, and all he can do is to sing a song of praise. Knowing and receiving God's love it to receive satisfaction in our soul which he compares to a rich feast. God's presence does not abandon us, for God is with us always; why can't we not sing praises to God? God is our help and assistance in all things; let our souls cling to God so that we can stay in love with God.

PRAYER: Loving God, let me find Your love if we find ourselves feeling far from You. Lead us to the sanctuary where we might find anew Your love. Let me stay in love with You, for I know that You're in love with me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

PS A special day today, for 35 years ago, she said "I do" to me! I love you, Babe! Thank You, Lord for these years!

Thought for the Day

May I seek to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God.