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Seek His Presence...Continually!

 

Last week, I wrote about a Psalmist who yearned for and even fainted for the courts of the Lord (Ps 84).  One commentator suggested that the wording indicates that the Psalmist’s desire was deep and insatiable and that the very soul of the man was yearning for his God.  So it’s very  likely that his deep and insatiable desire was not just for the courts of the Lord but for the Lord Himself.

Another Psalm starts off this way:  “See the Lord and the strength; seek His presence continually!”  (Ps 105:4)

An inquisitive part of me wants to know why I should seek His presence before I give the “continually” a whole lot of consideration.  The investigative part of me found these verses that point to the reasons:

And the Lord said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  (Ex 33:14)

You lead me in the path of life. I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.  (Ps 16:11 )

But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.  (Ps 73:38)

I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the Lord’s presence.  (Zeph 3:12)

So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus.  (Acts 3:20)

The analytical part of me loves to reiterate the reasons with bullet points.  His presence:

·         Gives rest;

·         Is where I experience absolute joy;

·         Is really all that I need;

·         Is where I find safety;

·         Provides the refreshing I need.


Even with such beneficial, concise bullet points, sometimes my lack of faith gets in the way of enjoying His presence as I should.  But the beautiful irony is when I lack faith, that is when I need to be in His presence all the more.  And the more I am in His presence, the more my faith is strengthened!  And that is a cycle I should continually be on!

So not only should I have an insatiable desire for God but I should also have a desire to seek Him continually!


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