Our Longing Satisfied

BMCU Ministerial Alumni Dinner, MS Baptist Convention— Annual Meeting

10/28/2025

5:00PM

Psalm 63:1-8.

Often, ministry is full of good, God-honoring demands. Yet, we can easily possess a Martha heart, busy with good tasks while neglecting out greatest need: intimacy with God. We try to satisfy our souls with ministry achievements— sermons preached, tasks completed, people saved. But these are temporary. When we neglect the pursuit of God in His Word, we find ourselves in a wilderness of burnout, frustration, and discouragement. Our longing remains. So, how is a pastor’s (or others in ministry) longing satisfied?

Psalm 63 shows us the path from spiritual drought to deep satisfaction:

I. We need to admit our thirst. (v.1)

Psalm 63:1 “1 God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.”

II. We need to feed our souls on His glory. (vv. 2-5)

Look to His character (v. 2)

Psalm 63:2 “2 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.”

Speak to His worth (vv. 3-4)

Psalm 63:3–4 “3 My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name, I will lift up my hands.”

Let your soul be filled (v. 5)

Psalm 63:5 “5 You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.”

III. Cling to Him (vv. 6-8)

Psalm 63:6–8 “6 When I think of you as I lie on my bed, I meditate on you during the night watches 7 because you are my helper; I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings. 8 I follow close to you; your right hand holds on to me.”

Notice the progression, then, of the text: An eager seeking of God leads us to direct our gaze upon Him; Doing so results in praising Him for all His goodness and His glory; Such praise causes our hearts to be filled landing us at a place of constant meditation upon the greatness of our God. Finally, then, we are motivated to follow closely the Lord, who is our helper and sustainer. Ministry is a wonderful privilege— the reality that we get to serve God— is amazing. Yet, if we aren’t careful and intentional to fix our gaze upon the Lord— who entrusted this great blessing to us— we will find ourselves longing, frustrated, discouraged, and burned out. Today, will you seek to have your longing filled by the presence of God so that you might be more full and fulfilled?