As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for
You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
(Psalm 42:1-2)

Do these verses describe your soul? When you sit down to read your Bible and pray, does your soul long for God?

The question is not "do you have a quiet time” or “do you believe that having devotions is important." The question is this:

Do you hunger and thirst for your times of fellowship with your heavenly Father?

Is the written Word of God a treasure of priceless wisdom to you, far surpassing anything Wall Street has to offer? During your times of prayer, do you find your soul to be pleasantly, sincerely, fervently knit together with the God of glory? Or has your time with the Author of everlasting life become - more often than not - nothing more than a spiritual discipline?

The Person we are talking about is

the compassionate One Who has – so very mercifully – rescued you from the abyss of eternal darkness and made you a citizen in His paradise of eternal light.

the just One Who has – so very graciously – clothed you in the radiant, righteous robes of His beloved Son.

the holy One Whose Spirit has – so very powerfully – entered your life, setting up permanent residence within you.

the generous One Who has – so very lovingly – blessed you with unfathomable, priceless, eternal riches.

We are talking about your wonderful Counselor ... your almighty God ... your everlasting Father.

Is your time with Him one of the highlights of your day? Or is He just another task on your “Things to Do” list?

If your desire is to hunger and thirst for your Father in heaven, perhaps this little course can help.

THE AUTHOR

Martin Puryear is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM, 1983).

After serving as the pastor of a small Bible church, he and his wife Carol ministered in Czechoslovakia with the missionary organization Biblical Education by Extension (now known as Entrust). They served with BEE for ten years.

Upon their return to the United States, they founded the organization Church-Based Training, International, a ministry that "equips faithful men to serve as shepherd-teachers within the context of small groups." They have been with CBTI since 1998.

Martin is also one of a plurality of pastors whose vision is to plant a network of house churches throughout the Triad of North Carolina.