Returning from the Wilderness

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God, 

   earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
   my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary 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.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
   with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
   I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
   I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

They who seek my life will be destroyed;
   they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
   and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God;
   all who swear by God’s name will praise him,
   while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

I feel like I'm returning from the wilderness.  I've gotten lackadaisical in my study of God's Word...reading it just to be reading it...mostly so I could check it off my mental to do list, and honestly, so I wouldn't feel guilty for not being in the Word. To be truthful, I may have been reading, but since I was not really reflecting on the meaning of the words as they floated past my eyes, it's as if I haven't been in the Word at all. I've found it very difficult to remember or internalize anything without this process of journal-blogging. And, because I didn't "write" down any of my thoughts as I've read through these last books, I have nothing to review, nothing to jog my memory.

This morning's reading included Psalm 63, a chapter near and dear to my heart and perfectly placed by the Lord on this day. I'd just mentioned to a friend this week that I felt like I'd been in a wilderness...wandering apart from close fellowship with the Lord. I realize it was not Him who moved...it was me. I'm the one who wandered...God was right there all the time, waiting for me to come back. Ah, my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary 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.

Thank you Lord Jesus for drawing me back...close to Your heart...thank You for loving me.