Hey Friend,
I have been reading so many blogs, articles, and books that talk about how to get off the hustle-bustle, hectic rat-race treadmill we call life and find time for God. Writers talk about gaining freedom from the hustled and hurried heart, and finding spiritual whitespace, and giving our soul room to breathe. This is all true.
I love what good friend and writer, Kelly Balarie said in one of her recent posts, "A busy heart doesn't sit down well with a still God."
Yet we strive on, doing and performing, and offering up the work of our hands in a glory-offering to God and we talk about needing to make time for God in our busy lives.
What if we took this whole notion and flipped it on it's head??
What if we viewed coming into God's presence as a privilege instead of an obligation item on our daily checklist?
Every time I go through one of my surgeries and recuperation periods, God brings some new revelation to me. Why? because the stillness and inability to get around and out-run God, forces me to come into His holy presence and spend time there. You want to know what I discovered this time?
My heart has a built in longing for God's glory that only time with Him can fulfill
It's been a long, long time since I have been truly overcome by God's presence
In days of old it was an honor and privilege (that few received) to get an audience with the King. To be able to bend the King's ear with your ideas, grievances, hopes, and fears or concerns was...well...practically unheard of. Few if any got to take their thoughts directly to the King.
In the days of Israel, before Jesus' death, the temple was at the center of town. The Temple court had three distinct parts. There was the outer court where all were permitted. Then there was The Holy Place into which only the ministering priest could enter, and last of all was the Holy of Holies. This was the innermost sanctuary of the temple into which only the high priest was permitted to go once a year on the Day of Atonement. A heavy veil hung down to separate the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. It was death to any man (even the high priest) if he dared to enter the Holy of Holies on one of the other 364 days of the year.
To say there was a reverence for God was clearly an understatement. People longed to draw close to God, but because of our sinfulness and His pure holiness, we could not look upon His glorious face.
God, in His quest to restore relationship with His people, did the unspeakable. The almighty creator of the universe who spoke the world and the stars into place, who wove us each uniquely together in our mothers' wombs, the Father who sent His one and only precious son to die a horrendous death so that we would be able to approach His throne, made the ultimate sacrifice one can make so that we, mankind, would have free access to God our Heavenly Father.
Listen to what happened the moment Jesus died and yielded up His spirit on the cross:
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks split. (Matthew 27:51)
The veil that had separated God from man was forever split. Thanks to Jesus Christ, we could now have access to God whenever we wanted to. Jesus' blood spilled so I could step into God's very presence and I find myself hard pressed to fit in time for Him some days???
Don't get me wrong though, God is not about guilt trips!!! He is ALL about relationships. No, this is not a guilt trip...just the opposite... it's an invitation to be lifted up, breathed into, and transported from the ordinary into the extraordinary.
In my quiet time, I have realized that too often I have been satisfied with a tootsie roll when God wanted me to have a Godiva bar.
I seek the autographs of mere men, yet I don't have adequate time for the God who writes my name on the palm of His hand.
God is right there, waiting, every moment of every day, at every breath we take...waiting to be invited in. What King waits to be invited in? Should we not be running to sit at His holy feet?
Behold, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4)
What King do you know that keeps his drive through window open 24/7? Yet we fail to come.
When was the last time you were truly overcome by God's presence that it took you to your knees?
When was the last time you danced because you stood whisper distance away from God's heart for you?
When was the last time you felt like you were where you truly belonged...in His lovely dwelling place for you?
God is where I belong and my soul is not satisfied with anything less.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O, Lord. (Psalm 84:1)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his holy name. (Psalm 100:4)
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Psalm 84:10)
Reverence, Humility, Thankfulness, Gratitude, Privilege, Honor, Worship
I have realized that these have all been missing from my life. God continually invites me into His Gloriousness and I have, for too long, been too busy. With conviction not condemnation I am being reawakened to the fact that in God's presence is where I belong. O how He lifts my head when I call His name. What joy fills my heart in His presence. What a privilege it is to bring my prayers, pleas, and worship before Him. In God, my soul is transported. No other "high" can touch this!
Something I once tried to fit in...I now realize I can't live without!
Dear Lord, I praise you that you lovingly usher me into your presence. Let me never take it for granted again. Thank you for reminding me that it is in your presence that I belong and what a privilege and a sacrifice it was to make that happen. Humble my heart Lord and let the fire in my heart that burns for you never be snuffed out by the busyness of this world. Thank you that no matter the time of day nor how far I roam, you are always a whisper away from being with me. Let me enter you courts with praise and not miss the loveliness of your presence. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be blessed...be still...be in His almighty presence today...
ps. Just a reminder that I pray for everyone who reads my blog in the morning and in the evening. I am honored and humbled to bring the hope that is within me before you. If I can pray for you more specifically, don't hesitate to email me.
"Missions Tab"
Please check out the children waiting to be sponsored for the upcoming school year at RCS in Pakistan. Just $10/month will see them through the upcoming year.
With the evil that prowls around waiting to devour, we do not ever want to have to turn any child away. Please join me on my "Missions" page for children waiting to be sponsored. Will you prayerfully consider giving them the joy of Jesus and the hope that an education provides??
