Better Than Life

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; 

I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, 

in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 

I have seen you in the sanctuary 

and beheld your power and your glory. 

Because your love is better than life, 

my lips will glorify you. 

I will praise you as long as I live, 

and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; 

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:1-5

This morning I cleaned the kitchen from yesterdays mess, saw the group off on their morning outing, then retreated back to my room to spend some time in His Word. This passage is where I ended up. I read over the words. I prayed over these words. I sang over these words. (Thank you, Acapella!) I have been approaching the sanctuary. I've seen his glory. I have praised him... But have I been longing for Him? Have I earnestly been seeking Him? I can tell you when I hike to the top of the mountains in Jinotega, I am thirsty! But... Am I thirsty for Him? 

Life here in Jinotega has been full. Full of His glory, full of blessings, full of disappointment, full of heartbreak and full of joy. How can so many different nouns describe the same thing? Because life is full of different moments. Different occasions to celebrate and to morn. Ecclesiastes tells us a lot about those options... I'll share more specifically about what has been going on around Jinotega soon. Today, I just want to share the comfort and peace I've had reflecting on this passage. I don't always seek him with every part of my being. I don't always sing his praises continually. I'm not always satisfied waiting in his sanctuary. I fall short. But thankfully, that's where his grace comes in. His love is better than life. Because without his love, my life would have no purpose. I would have such little joy or laughter to share because he is the water, he is the rich food that satisfies. 

Praying that whatever challenges and blessings come your way, you too can rest in his sanctuary. You can quench your thirst from his living water. Praying that we all learn to LONG for his presence and and earnestly seek him. I pray that we thirst for more of him daily, even before we feel empty!