Freedom Calls

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” – Psalm 42:1 (NIV)

Let’s explore the deep longing of the human soul for a connection with the divine.

The psalmist David’s words in Psalm 42:1 resonate with us, reminding us of our inherent need for a relationship with God.

This thirst for the divine is not unique to any one person or faith tradition; it is an innate aspect of the human experience. As Charles Spurgeon so eloquently put it, “The human soul is a deep ocean, and the divine Spirit can only be found by diving to the very bottom.”

The pursuit of God is a journey that requires faith and grace. It is a path that is not always easy, but one that is filled with beauty, wonder, and transformation.

As C.S. Lewis wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I also see everything else.”

Our faith in God is not simply a mental acknowledgment of his existence; it is a lived experience that shapes our understanding of the world and our place within it.

Theologian AW Tozer once said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is going to shape our lives. Someone has said that the highest prayer is to get the mind of Christ. This is in accordance with Scripture: ‘Take my thoughts, O Lord, and make them clean.’”

As we seek to know and understand God more deeply, we must be willing to let go of our preconceived notions and allow our minds to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Watchman Nee, in his book “The Normal Christian Life,” wrote, “The normal Christian life is not a life of effort and struggle, but a life of rest and peace, based on the fact that the work of salvation has already been accomplished.”

Our journey of faith is not one of striving and accomplishing, but of resting and receiving. We must be willing to let go of our own efforts and allow God’s grace to transform us from the inside out.

D.L. Moody, the famous evangelist, said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” Our lives are not our own; we are called to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). As we surrender our lives to Christ, we become vessels for His love and grace to flow through.

The deep longing of our souls for God is a reminder of our true nature as beings created in His image. As we journey through life, may we be willing to dive deep into the depths of our souls and allow God’s grace to transform us.

May we be people who long for Him with all our hearts, minds, and strength, and may we be living examples of His love and grace to a world that so desperately needs it.

Scripture References:

Psalm 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Psalms 42:1-2 NIV

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1 NIV

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Ask God if He will keep His promise to keep revealing your new nature in Christ and believe His answer:

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV

Quotes:

* Charles Spurgeon: “The human soul is a deep ocean, and the divine Spirit can only be found by diving to the very bottom.”

* C.S. Lewis: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I also see everything else.”

* AW Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is going to shape our lives. Someone has said that the highest prayer is to get the mind of Christ.”

* Watchman Nee: “The normal Christian life is not a life of effort and struggle, but a life of rest and peace, based on the fact that the work of salvation has already been accomplished.”

* D.L. Moody: “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”