Recently I attended a conference where I was excited to hear from all the speakers on the platform.
When we arrived at the venue I quickly realized I was not the only one anxious to listen to these people of leadership. After parking in what seemed to be the “back 40” (that is country talk referring to the 40 acres of land that is the farthest from the house) we set out to walk. The shoes I had chosen to wear were not new shoes but it was nearing the end of summer and my footwear of choice was more in the sandal category. Needless to say the heels of my feet had been free from friction for months and blisters soon rose. It was obvious that I was not accustomed to wearing these shoes for walking great distances. As I focused on my feet I took my eyes off my destination and that made the walk seem even longer.
That can be much like our walk with God. When we don’t walk great distances in our spiritual shoes we tend to focus on the difficulties around us instead of what is right…the destination of our pilgrimage to God. Ouch! I think I just stepped on my own toes.
Let’s look at the final portion of Psalm 84 verses 9-12
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield,
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
A single day in your courts
Is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
Than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the LORD God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The LORD will withhold no good thing
From those who do what is right.
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
What joy for those who trust in you.
At the beginning of this psalm in small print there is an inscription stating that this was by the Sons of Korah. These were Levites that had the sole duty of guarding the entry of the sanctuary. I love that the psalmist states that a single day in God’s courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. He knew of the honor of the office he held and it was so much better than anything else and was willing to sit by the door just to be close to God.
God is our sun and our shield. He does not give us everything that we think is good BUT He doesn’t withhold anything that is permanently good. He gives us grace for the journey He has set before us. What begins with GRACE ends with GLORY for those who do what is right.
“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk for I give myself to you.”
Psalm 143:8
God will give us the means to walk along His paths, but we must do the walking.
Got the right shoes on?
Stepping from the Shadows!
Cynthia
Thank you, Cynthia! Our walk matters every minute. I am grateful for your focus and encouragement. These are great Psalms - "Show me where to walk for I give myself to you." - that will be in my prayer time!
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