The Whole Story (Encounter Lesson)
Sermon Recap
Only God can satisfy the soul. Like David in
the wilderness, our deepest need is not comfort or control — it’s communion
with the living God.
Hunger for God reveals intimacy with God. The
more we know Him, the more we long for Him, true satisfaction fuels deeper
desire.
God sustains those who seek Him. When we
cling to Him in the dry seasons, His steadfast love and presence uphold us.
Psalm 63:1-8
My Soul Thirsts for You
A Psalm of David, when he was in the
wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my
soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where
there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your
power and glory. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips
will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will
lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my
mouth will praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You upon my bed and
meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and
in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your
right hand upholds me.
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Psalm 63:1-8
Discussion Questions
- In Psalm 63:1, David declares, “My soul thirsts for You.” What does spiritual thirst look like in your life right now?
- How does remembering God’s past faithfulness (v. 2) strengthen your trust when you feel distant or dry?
- Why is God’s steadfast love described as “better than life” (v. 3)? What does that reveal about our priorities and affections?
- What are some “lesser loves” or “substitute wells” that people run to instead of God when they feel empty (see John 4:13-14)?
- Verse 8 says, “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” How can we practically cling to God in a culture that distracts and numbs us?
Closing Thoughts
Our hearts were designed to hunger for God,
yet we often fill that hunger with everything but Him — success, comfort,
affirmation, entertainment. Like David, we must learn to see our wilderness not
as punishment but as invitation — an invitation to seek the only One who truly
satisfies. When we turn our attention to God through prayer, worship, and the
Word, our dry places become sacred spaces where we encounter His sustaining
presence. The more we hunger for Him, the more we discover He is enough.
This week, what would it look like for you to
replace one earthly appetite with a deliberate pursuit of God’s presence?
END
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