JUL 19

Psalm 63
Memorise Psalm 63:1
“My soul followeth hard after thee…”

So often we are reminded to place God first in our lives. Have you ever stopped to ask, what does that mean? How do I practically live that out? I go to school, study and do my homework, interact with my friends, and do so many other things daily. What does it mean to place God first in all that I do?

We must understand that placing God first is a mind-set that we have. It is an attitude or a frame of mind that would affect our whole lives. Its influence should permeate every facet of our life, whereby God no longer becomes just a single aspect of your life, but He becomes the very centre of it, where everything you do revolves around Him.

As we read David’s writings in Psalm 63, we get a glimpse into the thoughts and desires of this man after God’s own heart. We begin to get a sense of how he desired God and put Him in first place in his life. In verse 1-2, we see his strong yearning for God, to seek God and thirst after Him as a thirsty man longing for water in a desert. He longed to see the glory and power of God. Despite the fact that he was suffering in the wilderness of Judah, on the run from his enemies, yet the only solace and solution he longed for was God. Verses 3-6 explain why he has developed such a great longing. It is because of the lovingkindness of God, that he sees is better than life itself, and his soul is well satisfied with God’s goodness. One can say that if love for God is not in his life, then there is no reason to live at all. In response therefore he cannot help but praise the Lord constantly, and meditate on him day and night. Verses 7-11 then show us the complete confidence that David has in God, and he can rest secure in the shadow of His wings. No matter what David’s enemies might try to do against him, he will continue to rejoice, for he knows that God will deal with them one day. Probably the most compelling line from this Psalm comes in verse 8, where David declares, “my soul followeth hard after thee”. Is this how you are as well?

In order to be as David, we too must seek to know more about God, and understand how wonderful He is. Then we would naturally long after Him, and realize that His love is far better than the temporal fleeting pleasures that sin may bring.

Thought: If God is not in my life, then it is not a life worth living.
Prayer: Lord, help me to know more about You, and long after You.