Developing A Thirst for God

The new year invites a sober reminder that calendar dates do not change the heart; what changes is the posture toward God. This message calls believers to abandon surface-level religion and cultivate a radical thirst for God that reshapes every area of life. Drawing on Psalm 63, the image of the parched soul in a desert underscores a desperate longing that only the living God can satisfy. Seeing God in worship and fellowship awakens a desire that goes beyond duty—God’s love is presented as better than life itself, provoking praise, dependence, and sustained devotion.

The distinction between religion and relationship runs throughout: religious routines can produce outward compliance but not inward transformation. Relationship with Christ, however, realigns motives and fruit; it makes obedience an outflow of affection rather than a checklist. Scriptural examples—David’s longing, Jesus’ critique of religious formality, and Paul’s radical revaluation of everything for the sake of knowing Christ—demonstrate that God pursues humanity and that humans are summoned to respond. Knowing Christ personally becomes the true treasure worth surrendering everything for, because God himself is the ultimate reward.

Practical application is emphasized. Spiritual hunger must be cultivated through community, scripture, worship, service, and intentional habits—quiet times, Bible study, and faithful presence in the faith family. The call is not a one-time conversion test but an ongoing summons to deepen love and to be available for God’s purposes. The invitation is immediate: answer the knock of God’s drawing, recommit where needed, and take concrete steps—engage in community, serve, and prioritize daily pursuit—so that the year ahead will be marked by growth, testimony, and participation in God’s unfolding plans.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Choose thirst for God above routine A genuine spiritual life begins with a soul-level hunger that seeks God for himself, not merely for the benefits he provides. This thirst reorders priorities, turning religious actions into relational responses and transforming obligation into longing. It acknowledges human frailty and depends on God’s sustaining presence rather than personal performance. [33:26]
• 2. Pursue relationship, not mere religion Outward observance without inward intimacy with Christ leaves the heart unchanged; true faith centers on knowing and loving God. Relationship exposes motive and fosters humility, enabling obedience that flows from gratitude rather than guilt. When God is treasured, moral formation becomes a byproduct of fellowship rather than the end goal. [34:27]
• 3. God himself is the true reward Salvation’s deepest gift is not circumstances or comforts but communion with God; he is the treasure worth surrendering everything for. This reframes ambitions and diminishes the allure of lesser satisfactions, inviting a life evaluated by proximity to Christ rather than by worldly gain. Pursuit of God reorients joy toward the giver rather than the gifts. [66:01]
• 4. Practice pursuit in community Spiritual hunger grows in the context of faithful relationships—worship, study, service, and mutual encouragement provide the soil for abiding desire. Individual devotion matters, but the body of Christ is the instrument God uses to shape, correct, and propel believers into mission. Availability and participation are practical expressions of saying “yes” to God’s call. [71:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:16] - New year reflections
• [30:54] - Remembering God’s faithfulness
• [32:08] - Goals and God’s plans
• [33:26] - Cultivating a thirst for God
• [34:27] - Reading Psalm 63
• [38:45] - Religion versus relationship
• [65:10] - The treasure of knowing Christ
• [71:34] - Practical steps: community & service
• [75:43] - Invitation to respond and pray

Bible reading

Psalm 63:1–8 (ESV)
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.

Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Matthew 13:44–46 (ESV)
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 63, what specific physical sensations does David use to describe his spiritual longing for God?
2. David mentions that he has "seen" God in the sanctuary. According to the text, what two specific things did he behold there? [51:48]
3. In Philippians 3, what is the "surpassing worth" that Paul identifies as the reason he is willing to discard his previous achievements and credentials? [01:01:05]
4. Looking at the parables in Matthew 13, what is the common reaction of both the man who found the treasure and the merchant who found the pearl?

Interpretation questions

1. David claims that God’s "steadfast love is better than life." In a world that tells us to preserve our lives at all costs, what does it mean for a relationship with God to carry more value than our very existence?
2. It is possible to be deeply "religious"—knowing the rules and the scriptures—yet still miss the person of Jesus [49:20]. How does a "gospel of sin management" differ from a life where obedience flows from affection? [50:30]
3. Paul speaks of wanting to "share his sufferings" and become like Christ in his death. Why would a personal relationship with Jesus make someone willing to embrace hardship rather than avoid it? [01:01:30]
4. The man in the parable sells everything he has "in his joy" to obtain the treasure. Does this suggest that following God is a heavy burden of sacrifice, or is it a reorientation of what we consider truly valuable? [01:05:39]

Application questions

1. We often look at the New Year as a "clean slate," but calendar dates don't actually change our hearts [30:16]. As you look at the year ahead, what is one area of your life where you’ve been "going through the motions" rather than pursuing a real relationship with God?
2. Spiritual thirst is compared to being parched in a desert without water [46:56]. Have you ever felt spiritually "dry"? What are some of the "bone dry wells" of this world—like success, entertainment, or comfort—that you’ve tried to drink from instead of God? [53:08]
3. Religion can often feel like drudgery when it’s just a list of "dos and don'ts" [45:10]. How would your daily habits, like prayer or reading the Bible, change if you viewed them as spending time with someone you love rather than checking off a religious duty? [53:57]
4. God himself is the greatest reward of our salvation, not just the blessings he gives us [01:07:06]. If God answered all your prayers for comfort and success but didn't give you more of Himself, would you be satisfied? How can you practice seeking the "Giver" more than the "gifts" this week?
5. We were created for community and cannot grow into healthy Christians on our own [01:11:34]. What is one practical step you can take this month to be more "available" to your faith family, whether through joining a Bible study or finding a place to serve? [01:12:31]
6. Paul counted his greatest achievements as "garbage" compared to knowing Christ [01:01:05]. Is there a "credential" or a "success" in your life that you are holding onto too tightly? What would it look like to surrender that to God today and find your identity in Him instead?
7. If you were to look back a year from now, what specific "testimony" do you hope to share about how you intentionally pursued God in 2026? [01:16:23]