Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by a former staff at an AMI church, was originally posted on September 8, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Coveting the Presence of God in our Lives”

Psalm 85:10-13

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

In looking at the descriptions given to various characteristics of love, faithfulness, peace, and so forth, it is striking that they are described in anthropomorphic terms (describing God’s attributes in human expressions).  These characteristics point to an infinite and personal God, who cares deeply about our welfare, including restoring and blessing the land (i.e., meeting our daily needs). In closing the Psalm, the writer is filled with the confident hope that this blessing will flow forth from the One whose very nature is to “prosper you and not to harm you” (Jer. 29:11).  However, it is not enough for the psalmist to just receive the blessings; he also desires to experience God’s presence in the very land that the Giver of gifts has so blessed.  

If we are honest with ourselves, we often desire the blessings of God, but are lukewarm in our desire for the presence of God. The psalmist knew that God’s greatest blessing was His presence, and so our desire for God should precede our desire for the blessings of God. As we examine our heart today, are there desires for even the good things in life that overshadow our desire for God’s presence? Do we desire good gifts but neglect the Giver of those good gifts? So today, the Lord is reminding us to reorder the desires of our hearts and to place the longing for His presence above anything else.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 9

Prayer: Lord, I want to adore, thank, and declare how beautiful it has been to stare at Your face, the Almighty God! You are the incomprehensible triumphant King and I will remember Your magnificence. Thank You for leading me to see You more profoundly this Lord’s day, looking into Your face as Almighty God. Thank You.  Amen.