It is the posture of a worshipper and the habit of a desperate heart, keeping your eyes fixed on God.  King David lived that way, for both reasons.   When you are writing songs and running for your life, you learn this; when  there are no other options and few resources, where else would you look except to the Maker of heaven and earth?  “… my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD.”  (Psalm 141:8)  And you learn to listen, there in the desert, to strain your ears for the still small voice of God and the touch of His Spirit.  You learn to watch for every breath of wind and stirring of sand, not knowing what it will bring, but knowing Who guides it all.  “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10)

In the dry and hungry desert places a heart learns to listen for God, watch for Him with held breath to bring any change, a deliverance… “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” (Psalm 25:15)  And when your own strength and courage are running low and you’re not sure how to go on from here, where else would you turn but to the One who made what is here and hears you when you call?  “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (Ps. 62:8)  It is the only way to survive in the desert, as David knew… and Hagar…and Moses….you pour out your heart to God and then listen and watch for what He will do.  And that is the kind of habit it’s hard to learn in the distractions of more abundant places.

At first you might learn to fix your eyes on Jesus to survive, so you can make it to somewhere else, or maybe just because you are young and enthralled, but after awhile you realize it is the best place for a heart to be, and to simply wait and look for what He is doing next.  Because the heavens declare His handiwork and the skies paint His unfailing love for those who are watching.  Selah

I’ll be a God-watcher in all the places of life; I’ll be a worshipper and a desperate heart.  I will be content in the deserts and in the garden, if You will give me eyes to see You and ears to hear You.  “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.”  (Psalm 139:5-6)

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever….as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge….”(Ps.73:25-26)