Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This time of year, I meet with the Author and Perfector of my Faith from inside a warm house instead of on the front porch, but I don’t miss the morning view, no matter what. It is cold and (usually) windy this time of year, but God provides a shield of protection over it all…even our furry friends. We have lots of deer around the farm that find everything they need for a high-quality life, just like we do. There is peace. There is shelter. There is food, and there is water. So, they bed down in the wooded area across from the porch, they get their nourishment from the fields, and when they wander to the pond, they find water. Although they “depend” on God to provide all their needs just like all of nature does, they don’t need God the way I do. They don’t long for God the way I do. They don’t run after God the way I do. The Bible says, “As a deer panteth for the water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God”. Does your soul panteth for the Living God, too?

There are plenty of things we all THINK we need, especially this time of year, but nothing that can be purchased in this life is something we really need at all. If you’ve ever spent time with me, you’ll hear me say things like “I need coffee”, or “I need sunshine”, or “I need peace”, but in reality, all I ever NEED is God. Because I panteth for the Living God, He brings favour into my Life and because His Word says “The righteous will never go hungry”, I am confident that He’ll provide for all of my needs. Because His Word says “Joy cometh in the morning”, I am confident that if I find myself downcast for any reason whatsoever, if I just continue to panteth after Him, my Joy will return in the morning. Because I know that HE KNOWS the Plans He has for me, all I need to do is take His Hand and let Him lead, and I don’t need to concern myself with all the in-betweens. Because I know that He has gone to “Prepare a place” for me, I don’t have to concern myself with where I’ll live in the Future. Because I know that Victory is MINE, no battle I face will overwhelm me, and because He says that “No weapon formed against me shall prosper”, I don’t need to run and hide. Because He says that whatever I “bind on earth, will be bound in Heaven”, I don’t concern myself with the darkness that surrounds me…I bind it all instead. Knowing His Word and standing on His Promises is the only way to genuine Peace in the Journey of Faith.

I enjoy my furry friends around the farm, but I don’t admire them. They live as so many people do – wandering around aimlessly with a short-sighted perspective on wants and needs, forever focused on their survival.

I am blessed beyond measure for all that He is and all that He’s done for me, and I’ll be standing on His Promises until I draw my last breath. I panteth after the Living God day in and day out…I live FOR Him, and not just with Him. He’s everything I need, and BECAUSE my Heart remains inclined toward Him, He always takes care of all the rest.

How about you?