Do you feel close to God? How often do you enter the courts of the LORD of hosts? I admit, I didn’t understand how to enter God’s courts through worship, and I didn’t feel close to Him. So, in the coming year, I want to draw near to God and enter His courts every day through worship. So, what does worship look like? When you love something (i.e., a sports team or activity) or someone, you will give all your devotion to that team, activity, or person by giving your time, resources, and energy. For example, I love gardening, so I will spend a lot of time, resources, and energy planting and caring for my vegetables, fruits, and flowers. I will weed, water, and fertilize my gardens.

How much do you love God? He loves you and promises never to leave you or forsake you. He promises to provide for and help you (Heb. 13:5-6). Do you return the same level of devotion that God has for you? God wants our worship and obedience. How are you doing? How much time, resources, and energy are you giving to your relationship with God?

I pray you are encouraged by this series of posts to draw close to God and give Him the worship He deserves. Psalms 84:1-4 and verse 10 are the expressions of King David’s heart and his devotion to God. Take your time and think deeply about each phrase and King David’s state of mind.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

² My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

³ Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!

¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Why does King David have this level of devotion to God? Do you desire to have his level of devotion? The Bible says in 1Corninthians 13: 16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” I am only wondering, could “entering the courts of the Lord” be closer than the heavens? Take time each day to draw close and worship God within your heart.

=========================

WEEK 2 – January 15-21

Day 15—Worship God for His nearness and protection.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. –Psalm 23:4

Day 16—Worship God and His intimacy with you.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. –Psalm 139:1-3

Day 17—Worship God for His hand of protection.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. –Psalm 139:5 

Day 18—Worship God’s all-knowing power.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.–Psalm 139:13-16

Day 19—Worship God for His thoughtfulness of you.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. –Psalm 139:17-18

Day 20—Worship God’s liberation.

Who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; ⁸the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. –Psalm 146:7-8

Day 21—Worship God’s justice.

The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. –Psalm 146:9

All Scripture verses are from the English Standard Version. This information is copyright protected.

RELATED POSTS:

365 Days of Worship-Week 1

365 Days of Worship – Week 2