Devotions

I don't usually write here what God is teaching me in my devotions...but maybe I should. There are times when I read a devotional from a book by Amy Carmichael called "I Come Quietly To Meet You". Last night was one of those nights. The title of it was "He Allows Me To Hunger" and the passage is Psalm 61:1 & 5, "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. My soul will be satisfied as with the riches of foods..." This is a Psalm that David wrote while in the Desert of Judah. David, (or me or you) found himself in a barren place. God said, "In this place (the barren place) I will give you the peace you are longing for. Here (the barren place) I will give you spiritual food that will nourish you. You are always with me - no matter what the circumstances - and all that I have is yours." Then the Father, with great gentleness, draws us to himself and quietly says, "I am the one who allowed you to come in these humbling circumstances and who allowed you to hunger. I did this so that I might feed you with manna - bread from heaven! Only in this way could I help you to know that you cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from My mouth."

Do you ever wonder why you, who is so richly fed and cared for at times, should at other times feel so poor and needy and thirsty? Listen as God replies by asking four questions:

"Can someone who has never thirsted know how precious is My living water?"

"Can someone who has never discovered rivers of these living waters flowing on barren heights - can he ever lead his thirsty friend to those rivers?"

"Can someone who has never walked the deep valleys of the spirit ever help a friend who is fainting - or lead this friend to the well-springs that will save the life of his soul?"

"Can someone who has never seen burning sands in the wilderness turn into a refreshing pool - can he speak the praise of My marvels, or My power?"

The next time you become frustrated because it has seemed that you feel Him one moment and then the next He is gone think of these questions and ask God what it is He is wanting to teach you from this time. I promise you He'll answer...