Monday 16 December 2013

Longing for God

Psalm 42

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
I love this psalm and the vivid description of longing for God so my soul thirsts. I can relate to times of deep longing when God seems remote or even absent. As someone who has a life long history of depression, I know those deep pits of despair that brings a sense of total abandonment by God.
Martin Nystrom set this psalm to music with a beautiful tune that does justice to the text. Here can hear Robin Mark singing one arrangement HERE.
And you can listen to an acoustic guitar version by Jim Greeninger HERE.
Aside from thirsting and panting for God . . . where do we find God. I like the reference to thirsting for God, for the living God. Depending on where we believe God hangs out, we may meet God, or not. I really like Victor Wooten's sense of God all around, within me and within you, when he sings, "I Saw God Today."  
Check it out HERE. And if you want to experience God in the best bass guitar playing look for other youtube videos of Victor jamming on his bass.
Our Advent Exploration questions for today are: Where do you look for God? Where and how do you experience God?