All I want for my birthday is...
It's the eve of my birthday. This year, I don't want to "turn up" (and act out of character) or splurge on things I want, but don't need. Here in the quiet of my home, in the peace of early evening, I only desire the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 27:3 - One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
I have been reading up on men of the Bible lately. The first man, Adam, had it all. He had a wife, he had dominion over the things of the earth, and he lived in the presence of God. After eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam hid himself from the presence (Genesis 3:8). Cain, his son, also knew presence-less existence. Genesis 4:13-14 reads, "And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth and from thy face shall I be hid..." Sin kept these men from living in the presence of God.
Psalm 27:8-9 - When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."
I am so thankful that God has positioned my heart to narrow in on the "one thing", the presence. Because Jesus atoned for my sin, I am free to experience all of God's beauty, the fullness of His presence. I want to do everything there now. I want to sleep, sing, eat, work, and minister in the presence of God. And as I experience the abundance of life there, everything else becomes really small. Inconveniences don't unravel me (nearly as often as they used to). I am kept by His presence.
I am so glad that the presence isn't a one time only deal. I wake up, feeling "some kind of way" and then I just ask Him to fill me up. He never disappoints. Never. I sing, I cry, I laugh, I read, and say "Come Lord, dwell here." And there He is - my beloved comes with healing, joy, peace, and love in... His presence.
