Seek his presence

Psalm 63 is a psalm of David, written while he was in the desert of Judah. He said he was looking for God like a thirsty person in a desert would search for water. "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." vs. 1.

Remember Charleton Heston in the The Ten Commandments? He was wandering in the desert--at the end of his strength, dying of thirst, the winds and sand whipping around him. He was in a bad place spiritually too as he fled from Pharaoh who wanted to kill him. He didn't know God, didn't know his purpose in life. Raised as an Egyptian, but rejected by the Egyptians, he didn't know where he belonged. In church yesterday we filled out cards to express our gratitude for what God has done in our lives. I wrote that God delivered me from a purpose-less life. He ended my wandering.

David, also accustomed to running for his life, gives us this desert image to compare to the soul-search for God. But David does know God. If we follow his words, they lead us out of the dry and weary land of our lives to praise and thanksgiving.

After his heart cry, David recalls God's work in his life in the past. "I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory." vs.2. We also have seen God work. Let's recall what he's done for us--answered prayer, close calls he's saved us from, the sense of his presence in times of heartbreak or fear. Have you seen God? Have you seen his power or his glory? God's glory is seen in the face of Christ. (II Corinthians 4:6) Recall what Jesus has done for you, not just in the past but last night or this morning. Praise will spring forth and then your own face will reflect God's glory. (II Corinthians 3:18)

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise." (Psalm 100:4) Praising God and thanking him brings us into his presence. Is there any place more awesome?

So what should we be seeking? Seek his presence.