When reading the Psalms, it’s more important to focus on what’s being said than to worry about who wrote them. Sometimes people get caught up debating whether David wrote a particular psalm or if it was someone else, but that doesn’t change the real message. What matters is the heartfelt longing for God and the joy of being close to Him that comes through, no matter who the author was. The three verses—“My soul thirsts for you,” “My soul is satisfied,” and “My soul clings to you”—are at the heart of Psalm 63. They show a journey: first, deeply wanting God; then, feeling fulfilled by Him; and finally, holding on to Him. These feelings come one after another, all captured in this short song. If we can relate to these experiences—wanting God, finding satisfaction in Him, and sticking close to Him—it means our faith is alive and real. If not, we might need to think about what it means to truly follow Him.
When someone truly understands what they need deep down, they start to long for God, just like a thirsty person craves water in a desert. The psalmist describes himself as being in a dry, lifeless place, where there’s no water, shade, or signs of life—just burning heat and emptiness. This is a powerful picture of how life can feel when our souls are empty, no matter how much we have in the world around us.
Everyone has desires and cravings, but the trouble is that we often don’t realize what we’re truly missing. While our basic needs like hunger and thirst are easy to satisfy, the deeper needs of our soul are harder to figure out. Many times, we try to fill that emptiness with things that don’t really satisfy, like drinking from a broken cup that can’t hold water. We chase after things that look good but don’t help us, like a mirage in the desert that promises water but turns out to be nothing. The prophet Isaiah says that one day, these illusions will be replaced by the real thing—our deepest needs will finally be met when we turn to God.
If we never stop to listen to what our hearts truly want, we’ll keep feeling restless and unsatisfied. But those who realize that their soul is actually longing for God are the ones who find true life. Real faith is more than just longing, but it’s not real faith without it. True Christianity starts with recognizing our need for God and wanting more of Him in our lives.
Let me put this simply for everyone listening. First, to those who may not realize it: don’t confuse what you truly need in life. Instead of focusing all your desires on things of this world, aim your heart and longings toward God. Second, to those who already know that God is the greatest good you can have: make sure you keep living in that truth. Keep wanting more of God, because only He can truly satisfy you. Our deepest thirst is something only God can quench, and if we don’t keep reaching out and longing for Him, it’s hard to see how we’re really living as Christians.
But don’t forget—these higher desires for God won’t last unless we work at them and keep them alive throughout our lives. We need to regularly remind ourselves that God is what’s best for us, think often about how He is enough for us, and be careful not to let our hearts get distracted by lesser things. If we let our desires run wild after everything the world offers, there won’t be much left for God. It’s like a river split into too many small streams—none of them have enough water to reach the sea. If we spread our desires too thin, we’ll barely want God, and barely wanting Him means we’ll only get a small taste of what He gives. In the end, our true Christian life is shown by how much we genuinely thirst for God above everything else.
When someone truly wants God, their soul is filled and satisfied. The psalmist paints a dramatic picture: one moment, life feels dry and empty like a desert with no water; the next, everything changes, and the emptiness turns into a lush, lively scene full of joy and singing. It’s like being hungry and alone, but then suddenly finding a feast in the middle of nowhere, feeling full and grateful to God. This poetic description is really just a simple truth: we can have as much of God as we want, and whatever we get from Him will always be enough.
If we sincerely seek God, we will find Him—there’s no uncertainty or delay. The moment we open our hearts and desire Him, God responds right away and fills us with His presence. The only thing that keeps God away is our own lack of interest or desire; otherwise, He is always near and ready to give Himself to us. God’s love is not about wanting to possess us, but about wanting to share Himself with us completely. If we truly long for God, our hearts open wide, and He comes in, just like air fills a room or water floods a space once the barrier is removed. So, unless we deliberately shut God out, He will come in when we want Him.
When we truly want God, we can be absolutely sure that He’s with us right away—there’s no waiting or uncertainty. It’s as fast as sending a wireless message and getting an instant reply. Nothing else in life works like this. Usually, if we want something, we have to work hard, travel far, or wait a long time, and sometimes we never actually get it. People can spend days trying to reach a well in the desert, only to run out of strength before they find water. We all know what it’s like to chase after things and still come up empty-handed. But with God, the moment we desire Him, we have Him. That’s a blessing you won’t find anywhere else.
There’s also this: when we have God, we have all we need. Nothing else can truly fill every part of our heart. Earthly things might satisfy us in some ways, but there’s always something missing—they only fill certain needs, leaving others empty. Imagine a table full of food, but some guests still go hungry because there’s nothing there for them. Only God fills every hunger and longing in our soul. The prophet Isaiah describes God as water, wine, and milk—everything our hearts thirst for is found in Him, and when we have God, we don’t need to look anywhere else.
When your soul is truly satisfied with God, it doesn’t just stop there—it starts wanting more of Him right away. The Psalm says, “My soul follows hard after You,” which means that satisfaction and longing go hand in hand. As soon as you experience the joy of being close to God, you also feel a new desire to get even closer. The original words are even stronger: “My soul clings to You.” This means holding on tightly to God, like a shell stuck to a rock, while still reaching out for more of Him at the same time. It’s a mix of feeling secure in what you have and always wanting more of God’s presence.
This is completely different from how it works with anything else we chase in life. When we try to satisfy ourselves with other things—whether they’re simple pleasures or big accomplishments—we either end up bored and tired of them, or we become obsessed and never feel satisfied no matter how much we get. It’s like needing more and more of something just to feel the same, but it never really works. But with God, every time you turn to Him, your deepest thirst is quenched, and because God has no limits, you can keep growing in your experience of Him forever. The more you have of God, the more you want Him, and the more you want Him, the more you receive. God’s goodness never gets old or runs out—He’s always new and enough for you.
Friends, this is what the Christian life can be—since it’s possible for us, it’s also something we’re called to pursue. The psalmist’s words invite us to honestly ask ourselves: “Do I really desire God this way? Have I realized that, even when I have everything else, without Him life is just empty—a desert with no water? Have I noticed that whenever I open my heart to God, He responds right away and fills me up? And do I find that every time I experience God, it makes me want even more of Him, helping me to grow deeper in faith and know more of His goodness?”
These verses don’t just show us what the Christian life should look like right now—they also hint at what comes after this life. Death doesn’t break this chain of seeking and finding God; instead, our ability to receive more of Him keeps growing forever. As long as God is the source, we’ll never run dry. Believers will continue to live and grow in God’s presence, both now and forever, until they’ve received all they can and experienced all the fullness God has to give. Like Jesus said, the water He gives becomes a never-ending spring, giving eternal life.
Reflecting on the theme of “Seeking God in the Desert” based on Isaiah 63 and the powerful imagery in Psalm 63:1, 63:5, and 63:8, I’m reminded of how raw and honest the spiritual journey can be. The psalmist’s words, “My soul thirsts for you,” “My soul is satisfied,” and “My soul clings to you,” capture the heart of what it means to follow God. It’s not about theological debates or tracing authorship; it’s about the deep, personal longing for God that each of us can experience. The desert, with its barren landscape and desperate thirst, mirrors seasons in our own lives when we feel empty or lost, searching for something real to satisfy our souls.
This longing is the starting point of faith—a restlessness that only God can quiet. The world offers endless distractions and temporary pleasures, but none truly fill the deepest places in our hearts. Like chasing a mirage in the desert, we often find ourselves coming up empty, until we realize that our true need is for God Himself. The psalmist’s journey from thirst to satisfaction to clinging closely to God teaches us that faith isn’t just about longing for God, but also about being open to His presence and letting Him fill us completely. It’s a dynamic relationship: as soon as we taste God’s goodness, we find ourselves wanting even more.
What’s amazing is that, unlike the endless striving required to obtain the things of this world, God’s response to our longing is immediate. When we seek Him with open hearts, there’s no delay—He meets us right where we are. This isn’t just an abstract idea; it’s a living reality for anyone willing to turn their desires toward Him. With God, satisfaction and longing go hand in hand. The more we experience Him, the more our desire for Him grows, not out of emptiness but out of fullness and delight in His presence.
Ultimately, Psalm 63 reminds us that the pursuit of God is not meant to be a one-time event, but a lifelong journey—one that doesn’t even end with this life. The thirst for God leads to satisfaction, which in turn leads to deeper longing, creating a cycle of growth in faith and joy. Even in the “desert” moments of our lives, when we feel dry or distant, God invites us to seek Him, promising that He alone can truly satisfy our souls and give us life that never runs dry.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with honest hearts, acknowledging our deep need for You above all else. Just as the psalmist thirsted for You in the desert, we confess our longing to be filled and satisfied by Your presence. Thank You for meeting us in our emptiness, for offering Yourself so freely and completely when we turn to You. Help us to keep seeking You—not just in moments of need, but every day—so that our lives would reflect a genuine hunger and delight for You.
Let Your Spirit draw us closer, keep our desires fixed on You, and guard our hearts from distractions that cannot satisfy. May we continually experience the joy of Your presence, and may our journey of faith grow deeper with each step. Fill us, Lord, so that out of the fullness You give, we may live in love, gratitude, and unwavering trust in You, today and always.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Minister A Francine Green
February 2026
afrancinegreen.com 