And I Shall Not Want

The lyrics of Audrey Assad's "I Shall Not Want" have lingered in my head this week:
          
           From the love of my own comfort
          From the fear of having nothing
          From a life of worldly passions
          Deliver me, O God

          From the need to be understood 

          From the need to be accepted

          From the fear of being lonely
          Deliver me, O God
          Deliver me, O God

         And I shall not want, I shall not want
         When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want
         When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want

I've heard the song before, but I guess that I never closely listened to the words. They strike me as the earnest plea of my own heart, a heart too often distracted by personal comforts and worldly passions. 

The routines of daily life can become consuming. I get caught up in caring for the needs of my family and in pursuing relationships that will fulfill my need to be understood and accepted. I know that these things are not bad--after all, we live in the world and have been created human.  I don't want to be consumed by these desires, however, and to look to the world for the fulfillment of needs that only God can satisfy.

So, deliver me, O God! Deliver me from the needs of today and the fears of tomorrow as I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, and the One who has walked before me. I want to taste your goodness and know the contentedness that comes only through knowing you.