Lenten Devotional March 19, 2022

Scripture

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old,
I think about all your deeds,
 meditate on the works of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.                   

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
o not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.

11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life.
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant.

Devotional

The Rev. Elizabeth Wallace ’07

I have a recurring dream that stems from my unfortunate habit of sleeping with my mouth open, especially when I’m sick and can’t breathe through my nose. In this dream, I am consumed by thirst. No matter how much water I drink, nothing quenches it. I start with a glass of water, and I drink the whole thing. But nothing changes. I inevitably dream that I am drinking straight from a faucet, and can feel the cold water all around my face. But my thirst is not slaked.

Finally, I become so frantic that I wake up and realize I’m still thirsty because I only dreamed of drinking something. As soon as I am able to actually take a drink, there is immediate relief. Even one sip of water makes a tremendous difference, and there is no substitute for the real thing. Psalm 143:6 says, “My soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” I think this is such a helpful image of how we long for God. How we need a reminder of God’s presence, God’s provision, and God’s goodness. Just a taste helps us feel connected again. One sip gives us hope again, no matter what we are going through.

This Lenten season, may we all thirst for God as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Prayer

Holy God, make me thirsty for you—for your word, for your presence, for your grace. Remind me that all of life flows from you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, who gives living water. Amen.