DARE TO PANT AFTER GOD AS THE DEER: YOUR TRIUMPH IS EMBEDDED IN HEARTFELT PANTS AFTER GOD!
“As the DEER PANTS for the WATER BROOKS, So PANTS my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul THIRSTS for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? . . .” Psalms 42.
The Psalmist declares that as the DEER pants for the water brooks, so does his soul pant after God.
To behold His beauty, glory and grace in life, rather than to remain in a lamentable state.
It is in the knowing that in God’s PRESENCE is the FULNESS — overflow — of joy, and at His RIGHT HAND, where we are positioned in Christ Jesus, are PLEASURES for evermore, as enjoined in the Holy Writ — Psalms 16:11; Ephesians 1:20; Ephesians 2:6.
Therefore, in this month, take a new turn in life.
It is your time now to — “DARE TO TRIUMPH IN EVERY PLACE” — in God’s BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus, unafraid and unashamed in seeking after God as the Psalmist did.
What then is it about the DEER — this spirited animal — that is being compared to one seeking after God?
Herein are a few simple characteristics worth knowing:
Gentleness and an emboldened spirit to take chance — opportunity
Ability to move through life and obstacles with grace
Being in touch with the inner child, innocence — guiltless and easy to trust
Being sensitive and intuitive — the antlers serve as antennae, just as our human spirit is attuned in the subconscious towards God by His Spirit through His WORD
Vigilance, with the ability to change directions quickly to avoid danger — of the enemy and his cohorts
Magical ability to regenerate, being in touch with life’s mysteries — innovative, relevant, creative and an explorer
For further full, detailed, FREE online READABLE and PRINTABLE PDF booklet — do follow this link to:
https://42ndgenerationfoundation.com
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“You will show me the path of life; In Your PRESENCE is FULLNESS of joy; At Your RIGHT HAND are PLEASURES forevermore” Psalms 16:11 NKJV.
“As the DEER PANTS for the WATER BROOKS,
So PANTS my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul THIRSTS for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you DISQUIETED within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God” Psalms 42 NKJV.
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES” Ephesians 1:19-20 NKJV.
“And RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 2:6 NKJV.
“The Lord God is MY STRENGTH; He will MAKE MY FEET LIKE DEER’S FEET, AND HE WILL MAKE ME WALK ON MY HIGH HILLS. . .” Habakkuk 3:19.
“. . . It is God that GIRDETH me with STRENGTH, and MAKETH my way perfect. 33 He MAKETH my FEET LIKE HINDS’ FEET, and setteth me upon my HIGH PLACES. . .” Psalm 18:32-33 (2 Samuel 22:33-34).
SUMMARY:
The message is a September charge titled “DARE TO PANT AFTER GOD AS THE DEER: YOUR TRIUMPH IS EMBEDDED IN HEARTFELT PANTS AFTER GOD!”
It calls believers to cultivate a DEER-like desperation for God’s presence, because triumph, joy, and stability in life are found not in survival, but in panting after God as the Psalmist did.
KEY POINTS
- The Foundation of Our Thirst
The Psalmist sets the pattern: a deep, unrelenting thirst for God Himself, not just His blessings.
Psalms 42:1-2 | “As the DEER PANTS for the WATER BROOKS, So PANTS my soul for You, O God. My soul THIRSTS for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” - What is Found in God’s Presence
To pant after God is to seek His beauty,glory and grace instead of remaining in a lamentable state. In His presence is the overflow of joy, and at His right hand are eternal pleasures because we are positioned there in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 16:11 | “You will show me the path of life; In Your PRESENCE is FULLNESS of joy; At Your RIGHT HAND are PLEASURES forevermore”
Ephesians 1:20 | “…which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES”
Ephesians 2:6 | “And RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ Jesus” - Why the DEER? 6 Characteristics to Emulate
- Gentleness with an emboldened spirit to take God-given opportunity
- Grace to navigate life and obstacles without breaking
- Innocence and trust — in touch with the inner child, guiltless
- Sensitivity and intuition — like antlers as antennae, our spirit attuned to God by His Spirit through His WORD
- Vigilance — ability to change direction quickly to avoid the enemy and his cohorts
- Regenerative ability — in touch with life’s mysteries: innovative, relevant, creative, an explorer
Scripture also links deer to strength for high places:
Habakkuk 3:19 | “The Lord God is MY STRENGTH; He will MAKE MY FEET LIKE DEER’S FEET, AND HE WILL MAKE ME WALK ON MY HIGH HILLS”
Psalms 18:32-33 | “It is God that GIRDETH me with STRENGTH, and MAKETH my way perfect. He MAKETH my FEET LIKE HINDS’ FEET, and setteth me upon my HIGH PLACES”
- The September Mandate
This is the time to take a new turn. The call is to “DARE TO TRIUMPH IN EVERY PLACE”in God’s BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus — unafraid and unashamed in seeking after God.
CALL TO ACTION
- PANT — Like the deer, develop a daily, heartfelt hunger for God’s presence above all else.
- POSITION — Remember you are already seated with Christ at the right hand. Live from that place, not from struggle.
- PRACTISE DEER CHARACTERISTICS — Walk in gentleness, grace, vigilance, sensitivity to the Spirit, and creative faith this month.
- REFUSE SURVIVAL MODE — Choose to BEHOLD God’s beauty and glory rather than remain in a lamentable state.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
This month, let your soul thirst and pant after God. Your TRIUMPH is embedded in that pursuit.
For further full, detailed, FREE online READABLE and PRINTABLE PDF booklet:
https://42ndgenerationfoundation.com
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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