King David, revealing why God called him “a man after Mine Own Heart,” wrote these words …

“One thing have I DESIRED of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

That word “desire” is quite strong! It means “to ask” 94 times in the Old Testament. It even means “to beg” a few times!

In the New Testament Jesus emphasizes the same Truth, except to an even greater intensity …

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

Now this longing, this yearning, for the things of God is not just expressed as “desire,” but also as “hunger” and “thirst!” Both these verbs are participles as well, indicating perpetual, ongoing, habitual cravings!

Then (in last night’s Evening Meditation) we learned that a little country girl, called the Shulamite, ‘hungered” to be in the Presence of her Bridegroom-to-be, King Solomon. A word picture of us Christians panting after our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!

“Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon.” Song of Solomon 1:7

She absolutely MUST be by His Side when “flock feeding” time arrives! That’s “desire,” folks!

Now let’s examine ourselves!

To what degree do I “desire” fellowship with the Lord? How about you, my dear Bible student friend?

Loss of appetite (both physically and spiritually) can be an indicator of poor health.

But appetite can return!

Psalm 42:1-2 … “As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.” 

Grant such in our lives, O Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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