Consumed By God? - Psalm 63:1

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water..” - Psalm 63:1

    Are we consumed with God? A rather simple question it seems, but looks can be deceiving. Let’s first give definition to the word, “consumed.” Merriman-Webster says to “consume” means to “absorb the attention of.” When we think of our relationship with God is being absorbed in our attention to Him the first thing that comes to our minds? Again, let us examine this definition more closely.
    We can say that we are absorbed in a book or movie when outside distractions fail to grasp our attention. The book or film can be said to have “absorbed our attention.” Much the same can be said of relationships. When we are attracted to another by virtue of common interests or goals or even by a romantic connection we are often absorbed into that relationship to the exclusion of others. So much so, in fact, that we are often remiss in our daily duties or even other relationships. We are, in effect, consumed by the relationship.
    “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” - Psalm 84:2. The psalmist establishes that he is consumed by the Lord. This is not a momentary desire or inclination; it is a preoccupation with the things of God, a veritable passion for the Lord! Is our devotion to God  worthy to be called zealous? Passionate?
    Unless we devote our attention and energies to an endeavor we will often come up short of our intentions because we have failed to give that endeavor its proper priority in our lives. Half-measures seldom produce a fullness of result. So it is with our devotion to God. When our daily activities require our fullest attention then God must still be in the back of our minds where we can call upon Him in prayer and supplication at a moment’s notice. This is what it means to be consumed by God.
    “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.” - Psalm 42:1. Our zeal for God must be greater than anything else in our lives regardless of worldly priority. Nothing should come before our Creator, our Sustainer, our Lord and our Savior. This is the essence of being consumed by God.
    May the fullness of our devotion be in our hearts and minds and souls always.