Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:1-4 (NIV)
Graham Kendrick has been described as a ‘father of modern worship music’ whose songs are ‘crammed full of poetic, divine, biblical truth’ that have ‘sculpted a view of God that has impacted generations.’ In short, Graham writes songs that help the church to sing.
Since the release of his first album in 1972 Graham has been at the forefront of contemporary Christian music in the UK having written and recorded over 450 songs, many of which are sung around the world, including Shine Jesus Shine, Knowing You, The Servant King and Amazing Love.
He is based in the UK and travels internationally participating in tours, festivals, conferences and training events, as a worship leader, speaker and performer.
My Soul Longs for the Lord
My soul longs for the Lord
In a weary land
Wells are dry, and I am empty
Only dust in my hands
How I yearn for streams of mercy
Where my soul can be restored
"Come and drink", Jesus calls me,
"And you will thirst no more"
Oh, the fullness of Christ
Word of God, Word of Life
Living Word, You walked among us
Our Emmanuel
And You spoke into the darkness
Broke the powers of hell
Grace and mercy flowed from Calv'ry
To the valley of our need
It is done, "It is finished!"
From every sin set free
Oh, the victory of Christ
Word of God, Word of Life
How often in the stillness
Have I heard Your voice
Every whisper every promise
Calls my heart to rejoice
In the quiet of the morning
Through the watches of the night
In the fire of my struggles
There's courage for the fight
Oh, the power of Christ
Word of God, Word of Life
My soul longs to walk closer
With the Lord I serve
More than riches, more than favor
I delight in Your Word
Turn my gaze from all that's worthless
Set my heart on things above
May my life tell Your goodness
Your way of truth and love
Oh, the wisdom of Christ
Word of God, Word of Life
My soul longs for the day
I will see Your face
Hear Your shout of jubilation
"No more tears, death or pain!"
Every word at last accomplished
Heaven sings and earth replies
"To our God be the glory!"
Let all creation cry
Praise and honor to Christ
Word of God, Word of Life
Written by Keith & Krysten Getty and Graham Kendrick
When I was attending SWBTS in the late 1990’s, I came across the composer Anton Dvorak. He wrote a collection of “Biblical Songs” that quoted several psalms. One of the pieces was based on Psalm 61 and 63, two of David’s psalms. Dvorak’s composition made the psalms come alive for me. Our passage focuses on David’s need for God. As the psalm opens, David confesses that Yahweh is the God he worships. He seeks, longs, and thirsts for God as one needing water in a dry and weary land. David has experienced the joy of God’s presence and wants nothing more than His love.
The Gettys and Graham Kendrick use that same picture of longing for the Lord. The answer: “How I yearn for streams of mercy, where my soul can be restored. "Come and drink", Jesus calls me, "And you will thirst no more." We need to seek God’s mercy and drink at the “Living Water” that is Christ. The verses end with this wonderful description of Christ, “Word of God, Word of Life.” Christ should be our life. In Colossians 3, Paul writes, “You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.” We need to live for Christ because we are created in His image.
Be Christ-like this week and give Him glory from your lips.
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick