How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. Psalm 84:1-2
Allow me to tell you my pet peeve: unreturned phone calls. When I give someone a call, leave a message, and then never hear back from that person, I become so frustrated. I have put in the effort to reach out to that person, and I expect them to put forth the effort as well. This is because a relationship is a two-way street. You know this to be true, right? You cannot have a healthy friendship with someone if you are the only person texting or making phone calls. The other person has to answer your calls, respond to your text messages, and reach out to you as well. My friends, the same is true with God. He has put forth every effort to reach out to us, and we must do the same and respond to Him.
Psalm 84 recounts David's love for the Lord and being in His presence. "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven's Armies," he writes. "I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord" (verses 1-2). In writing this, David proclaimed just how much he loves being in the presence of God. This longing he described was a longing that penetrated deep down into His soul. He loved the Lord, and he made an effort to be in God's presence because of his love by talking to Him, worshiping Him, and spending time reading Scripture.
My friend, do you have this same love for God and being in His presence that David had? Do you also long to be with God? He has made Himself available to be with you. Will you turn to Him in your loneliness? Will you strive to know Him on a deeper level? Will you read your Bible? Will you talk to Him in prayer? Turn to Him today. Take time to delight in His presence today. He will meet you in your loneliness.
Spend ten extra minutes today, reading your Bible. Listen to what God has to say to you through His word. As you read, pray. Respond to Him. Tell Him what you are thinking as you are reading and respond to what He is saying to you through His word. Show Him that communicating with Him is important to you.
Read Psalm 84:1-12 (NLT)
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her youngat a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Interlude
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield! Show favor to the one you have anointed.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
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