"O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. . .My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you . . .for you have been my help and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me" (Psalm 63 1 - 3, 5 -8, NRSV). 

We all know that Lent is a time of personal introspection and reflection, of focusing on God, and of drawing closer to Jesus as He makes his way to the cross to finish his God-given mission of salvation. Yet, our immediate thought is where we will find the time in our already over-burdened schedules. We might start feeling guilty or even panic! Is it possible to slow down or stop the rhythm of ordinary living? 

Many of us are challenged to make room to consider our relationship with God, whether we are where we had hoped to be in our spiritual life, and, more importantly, where God wants us to be. There are just too many things demanding our time--job, raising children, shuttling between school activities, and paying bills. Not to mention PTA, worship, church meetings, choir practice, doctor appointments and visits with parents, family or friends. What time is left often consumed with worry about job security, threat of terrorism, and eroding financial position in an uncertain economy. 

The struggle to make room for something else in your life is real and difficult, even if it is quiet time to nurture your mind, body, spirit, soul and closeness with God. But can you really afford not to make time for the Creator who created you with a thirst to know the One who first loved you?

David, considered to be the author of Psalm 63, speaks of his intense, soul-deep thirst, desire, longing to know God and of the joy and satisfaction of being close to God. His thirst is so deep that he compares his soul to "a dry and weary land where there is no water."  What thirst! In spite of the duties related to governing Israel, political uprisings and threats to his own safety, David made time to cry out his thirst to God, to seek God and to pray for God to come close to him. 

How many times have we waited until we could manage to get life under control? David did not wait. He refused to rely on his own power to get his life under control. He realized the necessity to look beyond himself and his own power to someone outside of himself for power to live life. He trusted the loving God, had confidence in God's power and, therefore, intensely sought God's presence in his life. For David, seeking God was his highest human aspiration. What about you?  

The starting point for every Christian's spiritual journey through Lent begins with David's confident cry, "O God, you are my God I seek you, my soul thirsts for you" and with the assurance that God hears our thirsty cry. Because David sought God, he experienced God's steadfast love and protection. And David praised God in the morning and at night, "Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. . .My soul is satisfied."      

Many biblical scholars and writers say this Davidic psalm was used as a morning prayer in temple worship. It invited God into the day-to-day life of each worshipper, not as hedge or an insurance policy for a worry-free or problem-free day, but to gain a new perspective of the scared in the ordinary rhythms of life.    

What would happen if you were to "front load" your day crying out your thirst for God in prayer, meditation, introspection and reflection? You will never know unless you take the time. God just might surprise you when you place yourself and each of your days before God.