August 15th
2My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God…. 10For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. 12O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You! Korah. Psalm 84:2,10-12 NKJV
This psalm gives us some important reminders about our identity and purpose in life. God created each one of us uniquely for his glory. He has a plan for each of us and gives us special talents and abilities by which we can accomplish his will on earth. God even designed our bodies and souls to perfectly mesh with his purpose for our lives.
Every day we have choices by which we affirm allegiance to God or sin. When we choose God, our body and soul will be in harmony with God. We will be at peace with the Creator. However, when we choose sin, we will be in conflict with God. It may seem like we’re like a fish trying to swim upstream against a strong current. We will reap the damaging consequences of our sin.
The psalmist’s choice was God in this psalm. His desire was to serve God rather than to live in sin. He acknowledged that God is a good God, who does not keep any good thing from us when we walk in righteousness. The temptations of our world daily assault our belief that God will bless us with good things if we follow him. The world tells us that we must help ourselves because God won’t come through for us. It tells us that our sexual purity is worthless and that we should indulge our lusts now for the momentary pleasure. These are all lies!
Protection from the lies is gained by believing the truth. Our faith will protect us like a shield that extinguishes flaming arrows from an enemy (Ephesians 6:16). For example, when we are tempted to commit sexual sin, we can claim the truth that God is a good God and will bless us sexually with a fulfilling sex life in our marriage if we wait. We may not yet see the manifestation of that sex life yet, but our faith will bring it into existence in God’s timing.
Please don’t ever settle for living in a tent of wickedness. Choose God. Live in his courts. Follow his ways. No good thing will he keep from you!
Questions for further thought:
In whose image were you made? (Genesis 1:26-27)
Do you feel like you are in harmony with God in your life or disharmony?
If you are in disharmony, please list the choices you are making each day that lead to sin on a recurring basis.
Please take a moment to pray over your list, confessing your sin to God and asking for help and wisdom in breaking the sin cycle.
Do you believe the promises in verse 11 &12 above?
What do you think it’s like to live and work in God’s presence (verse 10)?
Prayer:
“Dear God, Please forgive me for the sin in my life that I have sheltered and practiced. Please cleanse me with the blood of Jesus. Father, I want to live for you each day and dwell in your presence. I believe that you are a good God and please help me in any unbelief I may have. Please help me to extend the shield of faith over my family and me every day. Thank you, God, for creating me with a special purpose and mission. Please help me discover them and move into them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”