A Devotion for the third week of Lent
David Praising God While in the Wilderness
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.
Psalm 63:1-5 NIV
Just as David praised God in the wilderness, we can find refuge in God during times of testing just as we do in good seasons. David devoted himself to his thirst of knowing God while singing praises to satisfy his soul.
We can do the same during various seasons in our lives. Writing this devotion, I recall waiting for several years for better health for my child. This season was one of the hardest I have endured while praying lists of gratitude and singing praises in my prayers before begging God to save my adult child’s health and life. People ask how I walked through each day not knowing about the outcome or God’s plan. FAITH, it took a lot of stubborn faith as I refused to give in and lose my faith. God used this time as a future testimony for me and my child to share with others. I began praying the Lord’s Prayer at night so I could be calm enough to try to sleep while praising, singing, reading, thanking God for my blessings and praying about concerns during my waking hours.
Two chairs were involved. Chairs you ask, yes chairs! After retiring to Colorado, I bought two chairs for our bedroom. These became my sanctuary with God; many times crying while praising and praying before I could get dressed and see others. When we decided to move home, the chairs came with us and are a daily reminder of my child’s healing, my faith and the knowledge of just how great God is.
Prayer: Father, help us to praise you as we go through our day in the hard seasons as well as the easy seasons. We thank you for your love, grace, forgiveness and healing. Amen
Written by Susan Seifert