Psalms 84 – It has to be from the Heart not the Mind.
Posted by Timothy | Filed under Christianity, Issues, Personal
I just got back from an evening service at my church and it was really great. Dispite being really tired i was able to take away some really great things.
We listened to a talk about “Religion” in the church and how we have these sort of formalities and rituals that we can almost idolize putting the practice or thing before actually worshiping God. One of the examples used was the cliche image of people with there hands up and eyes closed putting on this front that conveys that image that we are really immersed in the worship. Sadly this is not always the case as it is so easy to glance over the words and meanings of the song, I have even found my self drifting of thinking of my last rugby game and even what i am going to cook for lunch. It is this “performance” that we put on to make people think that we are actually doing really well that really challenges me. A few questions spring to mind when i think about it in retrospect; Surely it would be better not to be there at all if all i am doing is thinking and mentally putting my self in other situations, Though at least I am in church and trying to enter into worship. I’d like to say that this is just a reflection on my thoughts that are only personal and i don’t mean to generalize as this might not be the case for everyone.
I then read in Psalms 84
“1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
It was this verse that really challenged me in relation to my thoughts previously. It made me want more and more to be able to Worship like this and not with the hollowness as sometimes is the case. The Psalm then goes onto say….
“3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. ”
It then struck me that we must be really trying to get near the Lord and his presence(the altar). Its amazing that even the sparrows have found a home near the lord and in his presence. This is then what i must be striving towards; “2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD”. It has been a real challenge as I do yearn for more and want to go further in my faith so much so that my heart even faints for more of for this sort of relationship with the Lord.
Going back to what i said earlier when i find myself drifting off it is pure a mind and material based thought but what i think verse 2 is saying is that we have to have a heart emotion not a physical emotion. I now find my self not worrying about what my friend next to me is thinking of me or how i must look in front of the Vicar but actually worying what God thinks of my worship as he can see straight through our exterior performances.
As this has been an ongoing thought for me i felt I would express it and I realise that some people may not understand where i am coming from or may even disagree with me but i think if there is anything to take hold of here it is the word of God as that is crucial. So please feel free to comment and ask or challenge me with any questions.
“1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
I am a chap that really enjoys photography and things that look nice. I am currently on my PGCE year at Bath University which is training me to be a ICT teacher. I love playing rugby and going Kitesurfing in Kenya which is my home away from home.
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