Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Dwelling with God
Psalm 84
 

Jessie Samuel
St. Andrews MTC, NY 

10 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 live in the tents of wickedness.
What is happiness. How can it be achieved. Psalm 84 gives us some insights into this.
1. "Happy are those who live in your house"
How do you feel about attending church? Is it something we look forward to? For some, church is a place to socialize with their friends, and they would look forward to seeing them every week. However, church is a place where great things can happen. It gives us a glimpse of what Heaven would look like.  It is a place where God is praised, and where people encourage each other. Christians can look to other Christians for guidance, amongst other things. 
According to this Psalm, our worship starts with a focus on God. The writer of this Psalm longs to worship God and spend time with Him. He is excited to the point of even fainting for Him! Are we longing for God during church?

2. "Happy are those whose strength is in you."
Many a time we are lulled into a false sense of our own strength and power but we will not be able to enjoy God's power unless we own up to our own weaknesses. If a Christian thinks that he can fight the battle with Satan alone, he is doomed to failure and will succumb to pressure. As the psalmist proclaims, God will give us strength in our times of weaknesses.

3. "Happy is everyone who trusts in you, O Lord of hosts."
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7. Can we say that our trust is not in our wealth, strength or prestige. If we can sincerely say that we will walk uprightly, then the Lord will not withhold any good things from us.
The psalmist realizes that his happiness lies in just being in the presence of God. He would rather be in a lowly position in the temple of God than spend a thousand days elsewhere. When we get our minds focused on God, we realize that one day in church worshipping God is better than spending it anywhere else.
    May we come to terms with worshipping God in church and understand what it truly means to go to church.

PRAYER

Father, we lift up our hands as we worship and praise You. We thank You for all of the blessings You’ve given us today. Let us understand what it means to dwell with You in church and how that might change the way we view Heaven. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
There is nothing greater than being in the presence of God. 

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