I Long for You, O God

2 P&P Weekly Blog for week of 18-24 October 2025

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God.” Psalm 42:1 NIV

The Lord brought me to this verse one morning during my time of meditation. As I read the words, here’s how He expanded them in my mind. 

As a deer longs for the streams of water … 1) depends upon, 2) needs the water for refreshment, 3) comes to it repeatedly, 4) comes to the Source to relieve its thirst/tiredness, etc., … so I long for you … my soul pants for You, I seek You at all times, and I cry out to You, daily … God, the Living God. 

Dear Jesus, You are the One that I come to. I come to praise. I come, repeatedly, to know You, to find Your Will. I long for these moments of stillness (as with the mental picture of a deer drinking from a stream). I see myself receiving Your life-giving Spirit. Then, and only then, can I go about the tasks that You give me … because I have first received my Living hope, strength, peace and love, from the fount of all blessing, Your precious hand. Amen.

If you’re ever feeling—empty, tired, lonely, grieving, needing to feel loved—come to the stream of mercy, grace, acceptance and purest affection. Come repeatedly. Come for refreshment, confession. You can depend on this Living Water—to anoint you, cleanse you, fill you, restore you, and to encourage you—everyday. 

This entry is an excerpt from the first book in Deborah’s Pray-It-Through Devotional Series: Love the Lord Your God. To enjoy more of this engaging devotional, and to download the free E-Book version, click here for more information. The Love the Lord Your God Devotional is also available as a combination devotional puzzle book here. The word search listing has been carefully selected to provide a meditative space which reflects back to the devotional content.

by: deborah goshorn-stenger 2 Pause and Praise Creations ©