Thirsting for God -- and Positively Joy with Yvette Walker (EP 34)
In this episode...
We’re going to look at a very simple principle that’s a step in the right direction—away from performance and into relationship.
Get the Spiritual Self-Assessment:
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MAIN SEGMENT:
Let me provide some encouragement as we move into our main segment, thirsting for God.
“I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you.” (Psalm 63:1 NIV)
Knowing Jesus isn’t an activity. It is a state of being. In this Psalm, David’s physical setting reminds him of his spiritual setting. He’s in the desert of Judah, “a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (v. 1b)
He looks around him. Desolation. He looks inside. Desolation. In his thirstful desperation, he says that his whole being longs for God.
Have you ever gone so long without water that your mind and body deteriorate? The further you drift into that state, the more helpless you feel. And when you realize you don’t have a water source nearby, panic starts to set in.
Just as we can’t merely take a sip of water in the desert, we can’t take a sip of Jesus on occasion. We need to satisfy our thirst for Jesus always.
I’m reminded of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well in John 4.
What do we notice here? --- She was thirsty, so all she had on her mind was water. Jesus turned the conversation in a different direction, using her physical thirst as the touch point to speak of her spiritual thirst. He said he was the Living Water and that we will never thirst when we experience him.
Do you thirst for God, as David’s whole being did?
If not, could something be wrong?
I contend that you do thirst, but you don’t always realize it’s for God. David knew that his God was the only remedy for his parched soul.
However, we try other things to satisfy the thirst only God can satisfy. We miss Jesus altogether. Our time with him becomes a burden. We leave unfulfilled, still thirsty. So we turn to work, our kids, hobbies, entertainment and social media to meet the need. But these things are sips of water that never reach our souls.
Oh, please change your attitude about meeting with Jesus. He’s such a patient God, showing up every day in your life. He waits for you to show up because you love him.
FEATURED INTERVIEW:
Yvette Walker is the founder of Positively Joy Ministries at www.positivelyjoy.com, which includes a weekly podcast by that name. She’s an author, too. Her books include Whispering in His Ear: A Month of Joyful Conversations With God, as well as God’s Voice and How to Listen. (See the links at the end of the show notes for resources).
FREEDOM PATH TRAINING:
This is truly focused on those who are struggling with Performance Christianity. If that’s you, then I created this for you. It's inside the FRESH FAITH 24/7 Membership.
Module 1: The Awakening (7 sessions).
Module 2: The Core (7 sessions).
Module 3: The Depth (9 sessions).
Module 4: The Follow-through (7 sessions).
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LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Take the free Spiritual Self-Assessment
Positively Joy podcast with Yvette Walker
Yvette Walker's books and resources
Your Life with God 30-day devotional books by Jon Fugler
Life Change Bible Study Series (NavPress)
Life Guide Bible Study Series (InterVarsity)
