“One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Psalm 84:10-12
Better Is One Day, a now old praise song originally written in 1995 by Matt Redman, seems a fitting song to represent the month of intentionally delighting in the Lord. I’ve loved the song from the first time I heard it, and I cherish the Psalms on which it is based.
The single-minded focus of the Psalm writers draws all my hopes and dreams into one goal. This one thing I ask; this one thing I seek, time with my God. My soul bent on nothing other than dwelling with my God, gazing upon His beauty, learning from HIm.
This final week of delighting in the Lord begs the question, is God enough? Can I truly say that one day in the courts of God is better than a thousand anywhere else? Would I be more satisfied to be a doorman in God’s house than to be president? or wealthy? or powerful? or beautiful? or famous? or just plain relaxed? Do I consider myself blessed just because of my relationship with God?
I hope you have made the time to commune with God over the past month. And I pray it has been a delight. Pondering Psalm 37:4-5 started this month of tuning out distractions and purposefully tuning in to the Lord. Instead of sharing recipes for delicious desserts, I requested you join me in living out the psalmist’s instructions.
“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.“
Have you experienced the action of God over the past month? Have you learned to trust Him more? Remember the answers to those questions stem from you committing your ways to the Lord and delighting in Him. As we align ourselves with God, our greatest delight will be in the things of God.
Memorial Day is over, but the calendar still offers you one May weekend. Take some time, as May draws to a close, to delight yourself in the Lord. I promise you will not be disappointed.