Day 12 - As The Deer Pants (Martyn Nystrom)
‘Don’t give up!’ is a common phrase used in our household – usually in response to one of our children finding it hard to grasp something new, to keep trying when they seem to be struggling, be it a new skill, sport or a maths equation!
However, there are moments where I have found a strength in ‘yielding’. It’s not a word we use much at all today, but as a young girl I remember singing this song which used that word, it’s in the chorus of As The Deer Pants:
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
Yielding; it’s all about letting go, when we can’t do something in our own strength...synonyms to yield are: surrender, submit, relent and in this context I don’t believe it’s about giving up either.
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You
This song (first verse above) is taken from Psalm 42:1-2.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
It speaks to me about our desire for God in our life. It challenges me to ask if I do thirst for God, for His Word, for His presence, for Him like a deer does for water. I don’t always long for God in this way all the time, but I know it becomes a concern when I long for other things above Him. We all need to check ourselves, that Jesus is front and centre in all areas of our lives.
From a growing desire to long for God and have God in our lives, comes the yielding to Him. I want God to alone by my strength, that if I was without my family and friends and those I depend on, that I would be standing because the source of my strength is found in Christ. To Him alone will I yield, will I surrender my life. When I face challenging circumstances, or when I don’t know the answer, when I can’t do something in my own ability, knowledge or strength – I will lay myself down, put aside my wants, my ideas, my hopes and it’s not not giving up, but giving to the One who knows the unknowns, is the Beginning and the End and say, Jesus: “To You alone may my Spirit yield”.
Think it over / Mediate on:
Is it easy for you to lay down or to yield to God when you can’t fix something or bring solution?
Are you challenged to love God with a new thirst for Him today? Ask Him to give you a renewed desire to be Lord of your life.
Use this song to worship (https://youtu.be/dlCi53Q-B3k) as a pray towards your Heavenly Father. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh as you surrender your life to God today
Written by Senior Pastor Charmaine