To Perceive His Glory

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.  — Psalm 63:1-8

The words of this Psalm reveal the difference between a person who is merely religious and one who possesses a relationship with The Lord.  As you read these verses, you can practically visualize the writer — or yourself — experiencing a range of perspectives and feelings about God: from a deep longing to sense the strength and glory of God in a time of corporate, vocal worship… to meditation on the provision of God during the quiet darkness of a bedroom at night.  Clearly, faith in The Living God is more than a passive, intellectual pursuit; it’s a heart-and-soul interactive involvement with The Creator who personally loves you with an immeasurable, sacrificial, unconditional love!  Wow!!

Consider your own personal walk of faith.  Is fellowship with Christ — including a hunger to know and apply His Word — integrated into every facet of your life?  When that is true of our lives and husbands and wives, then we (like the psalmist) can find ourselves ready and willing to joyfully praise The Lord!