Fill Us Again

God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. – (Psalm 63:1, HCSB)

God, You are my God. I am searching so hard to find You. Body and soul, I thirst for You in this dry and weary land without water. – (Psalm 63:1, ERV)

O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust. I seek You with every fiber of my being. In this dry and weary land with no water in sight, my soul is dry and longs for You. My body aches for You, for Your presence. – (Psalm 63:1, VOICE)

I so appreciate David’s heart throughout the Psalms. He was by no means a perfect person, but His heart after God was true. Though my daily devotions take me throughout the entire Bible, I cannot help but be drawn back in by the Psalms. What I have learned over the last many years of beginning each day with time with God and in His word, is that it is as necessary as the air I breathe. In the same way that I wake and am ready for coffee and food, so too, my soul is needing nourishment from God. Each time I seek the Lord, He is faithful to show me more of Himself. This verse is my heart, as I am tired and weary, and it at times, feels as if there is no relief in sight, yet He provides me with reminders of His presence, and brings the weekends as a time to rest and recharge. May we ever seek the Lord, in whom we can trust, for He is our nourishment and refreshment, even in the dry and weary places.

O God, I seek You,

My hope and all grace;

The One who strengthens,

Throughout all my days.

My heart ever seeks,

For in You I find;

Strength for my body,

And peace for my mind.

Faithful to meet me,

Each time that I seek;

You love me to life,

Give strength when I’m weak.

Ever I’ll praise You,

For in You alone;

I find all goodness,

As Your heart’s made known.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our water in the desert and the presence our entire being longs for. Thank You that as we seek You, You meet us and fill us again. Forgive us for wandering in our weariness instead of seeking You. Teach us to trust You to be our strength and hope, even when it seems that there is no way to sustain in the environment we find ourselves in. Show us how to love those around us in ways that build up, encourage, and strengthen in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to meet us and fill us again, each time we come to You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. – Psalm 126:3

Quenched By Faithful Love

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. – (Psalm 63:1, NIV)

God, You are my God. I am searching so hard to find You. Body and soul, I thirst for You in this dry and weary land without water. – (Psalm 63:1, ERV)

O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust. I seek You with every fiber of my being. In this dry and weary land with no water in sight, my soul is dry and longs for You. My body aches for You, for Your presence. – (Psalm 63:1, VOICE)

Thankfully, in the Pacific Northwest, the land is rarely dry and parched without water. However, all of us have seasons where we find ourselves thirsty for more. The only One who can truly satisfy is God. He brings strength and rest in our weariness, peace in our chaos, and love where it seems to be lacking. His timing is perfect, and He knows our needs best. Normally, today would be the beginning of the home stretch of a long week, yet tomorrow, just in time, is a day that will provide much needed rest. It is far easier to find the strength and resolve to rise and prepare for the day when it is the final work day of the week. I know that the feeling is similar among educators everywhere, as this has been a long and exhausting start to the school year. It is amazing to have kids back in classrooms, yet I am experiencing and can see it on the faces of my colleagues, weighty weariness. As I continue to seek the Lord to fill and renew me, it is my prayer that the extra day of rest will bring refreshment and new resolve for staff and students alike. May we choose to trust in the Lord, who is our strength and supply, even in the dry and weary spaces.

When weariness comes,

And reserves run dry;

The Lord is faithful,

In love, He’ll reply.

Each time we ask Him,

With grace, He comes near;

Grants strength in weakness,

And quiets our fear.

His strength is plenty,

His grace provides rest;

His love overwhelms,

And His care is best.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can come to You when we are weary and parched, and You are faithful to meet us where we are and provide what we need. Thank You that You love us best, and care for us through every trial and triumph. Forgive us for not seeking You in our lack. Teach us to trust You more, as You are our Provider. Show us how to love those around us in ways that bring strength in weariness and grace and goodness where it is lacking. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to satisfy our lack and bring peace in our weariness. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 1:3

Water in Our Weariness

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. – (Psalm 63:1, NIV) 

God, You are my God. I am searching so hard to find You. Body and soul, I thirst for You in this dry and weary land without water. – (Psalm 63:1, ERV) 

O True God, You are my God, the One whom I trust. I seek You with every fiber of my being. In this dry and weary land with no water in sight, my soul is dry and longs for You. My body aches for You, for Your presence. – (Psalm 63:1, VOICE) 

Much like the way my puppy goes off and does his own thing, ever seeking new ways to entertain himself, what he seems to come back to in the still silent moments of the morning, is his snuggle spot with his torso and head on my lap. Even though he no longer fully fits in this space, he knows there is love and comfort ever waiting for him here. I know I am much the same way with God, and thankfully, I can never outgrow the safe, sweet space in His hands. His love fills where we are empty, and His peace permeates the places that are unsettled. Even on my most exhausting days, God is there, waiting to pick me up, encourage me, and give me the grace and strength that I need to press on. May we ever seek that sweet space with the Lord, where we are refreshed as we rest in Him. 

Lord in the morning, 

I choose seek Your face; 

Faithful and present, 

You show me Your grace. 

As my heart’s longing, 

You make Your love clear; 

Encouraged and held, 

I find You are near. 

When the day is done, 

And I’m weary, worn; 

Your strong arms hold me, 

And hope is reborn. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we may feel depleted and thirsty, You are faithful to meet us and refresh us as we seek You. Forgive us for the times that we try to keep powering through in our own strength, rather than leaning into You. Teach us to turn to You, as You are every ready and willing to have us come snuggle in the safety of Your presence. Show us how to love those around us in ways that bless and refresh and strengthen weariness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to quench our thirst and bring refreshment when we are weary and worn. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present 

Yes, my soul finds rest in God; my hope comes from Him. – Psalm 62:5

The Hand that Steadies

I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. – (Psalm 63:8, NLT)

I stay close to You, and You hold me with Your powerful arm. – (Psalm 63:8, ERV)

My soul clings to You; Your right hand reaches down and holds me up. – (Psalm 63:8, VOICE)

 

Much like a small child who has not quite yet learned to walk on their own, who reaches for the strong hand of a loved one to help steady them and hold them up, we too ought to do likewise with the Lord. Though we no longer need the help of a hand to walk, His nearness and His strength are necessary to navigate the obstacles that rise up before us. Just as a toddler has absolute trust in the hand that holds them, we too need to cling to Christ and trust that He has us in His outstretched hands. His arms are far greater than our adversaries and obstacles. As we stay close to Christ, we become acutely aware of His presence and His provision to persevere in all things and at all times. May we have faith like little children, as we trust completely in the nearness and greatness of our God to whom we cling.

 

I cling to You, Lord, 

For Your strength is great;

Your hand holds me up,

Hope to celebrate.

His mighty right hand,

Reaches where we are;

Holds our heaviness,

Grants strength to go far.

No matter what comes,

Have hope and believe;

The depth of His love,

Too much to conceive.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we cling to You, You hold us up with Your mighty hands. Thank You that we can seek You in all things, and trust You to be our strength, our help and our hope. Forgive us for not coming to You in trust. Teach us to know in our hearts the truth of Your promises for ourselves. Show us how to love others well, just as we are loved by You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we cling to You and become aware of Your hands holding us secure. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. – Psalm 34:8

Love that’s Better than Life

Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! – (Psalm 63:3, NLT)

Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise You. – (Psalm 63:3, ERV)

Your steadfast love is better than life itself, so my lips will give You all my praise. – (Psalm 63:3, VOICE)

 

God’s love is what gives us life and breath and purpose in our being. Without Him and receiving His love, existence would be void of the light and life that we were created to know. Because the love of God is steadfast and will not waiver based on what we do or do not do, we have reason to give Him praise for all of our days. Unconditional love is the greatest love we will ever know, and when we receive it for ourselves, we hold fast to this life-sustaining goodness that stirs up a desire within us to give God our praise. May we ever seek the Lord and receive the love that He readily offers, as His love provides purpose and reason to give Him praise.

 

The love of the Lord, 

Is steadfast and true;

It’s better than life,

As it makes us new.

Because of His love,

I will ever praise;

The God of all grace,

For all of my days.

His love never fails,

Though we always do;

God’s mercy and grace,

Always see us through.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that Your unfailing love is better than life itself. Thank You that Your love is our reason to praise You. Thank You that Your love gives us light and life and hope and reason for being. Forgive us for not trusting Your love to be true for us, or for not giving proper praise to You, where ALL praise is due. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would receive what You freely offer and give You all the glory. Show us how to love those around us in such a way, that they may see Your goodness and grace through our words and deeds. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we receive Your faithful love and give You praise forever. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14

 

Keep Me Close

I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. – (Psalm 63:8, NLT)

I stay close to You, and You hold me with Your powerful arm. – (Psalm 63:8, ERV)

My soul clings to You; Your right hand reaches down and holds me up. – (Psalm 63:8, VOICE)

 

I find myself in a season where so many facets of my life are new and unknown. As I tread into territory that I have never traversed before, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the certainty and security that I know in Christ. Much of the new that lies before me is exciting and holds great promise, yet without God, I would be in a constant state of overload in my own uncertainty as to how I need to navigate each next step as it arrives. In Christ, I can rest assured that He goes before me, remains with me, and will hold me up through each next step of this journey that is unfolding in front of me. My soul will ever cling to Christ, as He is where my hope and strength is found. May we ever stay close to the Lord, as He will uphold us with His mighty hand.

 

My soul clings to You, 

O Lord God above;

As You take my hand,

Uphold me in love.

As I cling to You,

My strength is assured;

For Your strong right hand,

Holds me up secure.

O Lord, in all things,

Keep me close to You;

No matter what comes,

Your grace sees me through.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we cling to You, You hold us up with Your mighty hands. Thank You that no matter how uncertain things seem all around us, our hope in You is secure forever. Forgive us for allowing what we see before us to give fear or anxiety a foothold. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would cling to You in faith, knowing that You will hold us secure, regardless of what we see. Show us how to love those around us in a way that encourages and builds others up, especially in the spaces where they feel the most uncertain. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we cling to You and praise You for holding us secure with Your mighty hands. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. – 1 Chronicles 16:31

 

Seeking in Our Weariness

God, You are my God. I am searching so hard to find You. Body and soul, I thirst for You in this dry and weary land without water. – (Psalm 63:1, ERV)

When we are weary and depleted, the very fibers of our being cry out for rest and relief. Our search will always fall short, however, if it is not in pursuit of Christ. Only He who made us intentionally, who knit us together in our mother’s womb, knows what we truly need to find rest and comfort in Him. God alone is what our hearts are longing for, yet we must acknowledge and seek Him, to find the answers for which we are searching. May we go to God with our every need, as He alone, is the answer to what we are seeking.

God, You are my God,

who I’m searching for;

my whole being thirsts,

to know Your heart more.

When I am weary,

I need to find You;

for comfort and rest,

You refresh, make new.

Ever I’ll seek You,

mind, body and soul;

for You are my God,

whom I shall extol.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my God and I can earnestly seek You. Thank You that when my soul is thirsty and my whole being longs for You in my weariness, You are faithful to meet me in the moment. Forgive us for attempting to power through our weariness, rather than seeking You, our Source of strength. Teach us to trust You more, as we walk out our days both in lack and in plenty. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they would be aware of Your goodness and grace extended through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we earnestly seek You in our weariness, and trust in Your faithfulness. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23

Sing Out, O My Soul

Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. – (Psalm 63:7)

 

It never ceases to amaze me when, despite chaos or struggles surrounding me, if I feel safe, songs rise up in my heart. The very space of safety that our hearts are able to hold, even when security does not make sense, is Christ’s presence so close, that we are in the shadow of His wings. It is here that we find rest, release the raw and the real that we are in, and discover His help, giving our hearts reason to rejoice. As we discover Christ’s help and how very near He is, we cannot help but sing praise for who He is and all that He has done. May we recognize His help, and sing praise to Him in the sweet shadow of His protective wings.

 

Sing out, O my soul,

for safety is here;

in Christ’s sweet shadow,

He calls us, draw near.

His wings wrap around,

protecting us all;

our help and our hope,

He’ll not let us fall.

Sing out, O my soul,

may songs ever rise;

of Christ’s faithfulness,

and hope realized.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our help, and our safety. Thank You that You keep us close in the shadow of Your wings. Thank You that in that safe space, we can release all of our burdens and fix our eyes and hearts entirely on You, giving You the proper praise that You deserve. Forgive us for not recognizing You nearness, and for not singing out the songs that are ready for release. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will recognize the security we have in Your hands, and know how Your help is available and at the ready when we call on Your Name. May songs of praise be ever on our lips, as we choose to sing of Your faithfulness, even through the difficult. Lead us to love others well, just as You so wonderfully love each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we sing out to You from the shadow of Your wings, remembering always that You are our help and our hope. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  – Galatians 5:22-23