Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article What I want Tuesday, March 29, 2011 Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 Kings 5:10 Elisha told Naaman, a Syrian soldier with leprosy, "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean." Naaman didn't want to do it. Too simple. His servants convinced him to try anyway. "So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." Seven times into the deep. Down in the water to pray. What was he thinking on that hot middle-eastern day? Trusting God? Saving face? Hoping against hope? Didn't matter to God. All Naaman had to do was obey. Regardless of why he obeyed, God healed him. I want to understand why God does what He does, but I don't. So I'll lead with desire. In God's presence I come quicker to peacemaking and giving, as my own body and emotions quiet down. I long to be with you, Lord. God's calm confidence gives me courage and strength. My soul pants for you, O Lord. Beauty, order and harmony follow God's touch. Skin like a baby's skin, healed and whole, in just a little while. Seven times a little while. Seventy times seven. Haven't I seen God's glory now and then? No matter why, or when? Why so downcast, o my soul? Why so bleak within me? In the steady roar of his waterfalls God waits for me once and once and once again. Lord, it's your message, it's your prophet, it's your river. Fill me up with patience and humility while I wait beside it for the word to jump right in. I want your healing, but I want You even more. "; Add      Edit    Delete