The Privilege of His Presence
Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with Him every moment in His house, finding the sweet loveliness of His face, filled with awe, delighting in His glory and grace. Psalm 27:4a TPT
Insight
If you could have God satisfy any craving you have right now, what would it be?
If I’m honest, asking God to give me the privilege of dwelling in His presence forever isn’t the first thing that comes to my mind. There are several things I think I’d ask Him for long before saying, “Hey God, you know what I want most? I just want to be with You.” King David’s song holds a mirror up to my heart: spending time with God isn’t my greatest joy or strongest craving… but I want it to be.
I often take for granted just how amazing it is that I can commune with God whenever I please. A lot of us routinely spend time with the Lord, which is a critical and admirable spiritual discipline. But when time with God feels “normal,” we often forget how magnificent it is that the King of the universe hears us, sees us, and talks to us. We are all just one person of 8 billion currently roaming the earth. Yet, God sees us, comes near to us, and begs for our attention. None of us go unnoticed or unpursued by Him. His attention is squarely fixed on each of us, all at once, all the time. He knows how many hairs are on our heads (Luke 12:7) & His thoughts toward us outnumber every grain of sand on the earth (Psalm 129:17-18).
There is so much joy to be had in God’s presence. When our time with Him becomes rigid and strictly structured, we forget that being with God is supposed to be fun. God is JOY! Time with Him is supposed to be silly, childlike, and filled with wonder. Time with Him doesn’t have to feel like an obligation or a chore. He wants to romance us and take us on beautiful adventures with Him. He wants to open our eyes to the millions of little miracles that surround us.
It is so normal to feel ambivalent about spending time with God. Sometimes, coming into His presence takes discipline and grit. Sometimes, all we want to do is run from Him. The amazing thing is that even when we fail to delight in His presence, He still delights in ours. Though we may get irritated and frustrated with God, He never grows tired of us. Even when we aren’t prioritizing Him, He is prioritizing us. God does all the heavy lifting in our relationship with Him.
The Lord’s presence is the greatest privilege we are afforded in this life. His house is the safest, most enjoyable, most exciting place to be. Today, take time to remember just how awesome it is that we are able to come to Him freely.
Reflection
Do you take the time you spend with God for granted? Why or why not?
How can you make your time with God a more wondrous, joy-filled experience?
Prayer
Abba, thank You for being a God Who desperately wants to spend time with me. Thank You for creating a space for me to commune with You. Thank You for sending Your Son to die so that I can boldly approach Your throne whenever I feel inclined. God, help me to not take this gift lightly. Remind me how amazing it is that You allow me to be near You. Remind me that it is a joy, not a chore, to hang out with You. Let my heart crave Your presence more than anything else. Open my eyes so that I can see just how wonderful time with You truly is. You made the galaxies and the seas, and You invite me to sit at Your feet. How amazing! Amen.
Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.