8 JULY 2024 decotional

"Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place." (I Chronicles 16:27)

What beautiful words of King David! In this entire passage/chapter, David is encouraging the people of Israel to walk before their God humbly, giving all glory and honor to Him. He is sharing with them the beauty of living a life of blessing and favor before the God of heaven.

Oh that I would have found this verse and understood it many, many years ago! As I have written before, the majority of my life has been one of rebellion - even against the God I said I loved. I rebelled against my parents, I rebelled against my calling, I rebelled against living a clean, holy life. I rebelled against society, I rebelled against the military, I rebelled against those in positions of power and authority over me. What a foolish life I have lived!

Finally, in the golden years of my life I have learned how awesome it is to walk with God, to speak with Him daily, to enter into His Presence, and to listen for His voice. The Holy Spirit has lived within me entangled in the barbed-wire mess I created for years. Occasionally I would let Him out and allow Him to work in and through me, but in the end I stuffed Him back in the dungeon I gave Him to live in. Again, how foolish I have lived up to now.

But I will not look back in anger or despair. Instead, I choose to look forward in hope and peace, knowing I am finally learning what I should have known all the time. I have set the Spirit free (still cautiously, mind you) and allowed Him to touch areas of my life that were off-limits to Him previously. He has endowed me with such an overwhelming sense of peace and acceptance! Hallelujah to God! I am leaning hard on the words of the prophet Joel, who penned the promise that He will "...restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed." That last phrase speaks to me tonight especially: "my people shall never be ashamed."

My friend, I encourage you as you read these words to come clean with God. Confess your shame of living a foolish life, confess your guilt in not obeying Him in the past, and confess that you now want to walk in His Presence daily. That you now want to know the beauty and majesty of having His face shine upon you, of knowing the security and joy of living in His Presence. I promise you - as one who has begun to awaken from my sinful slumber - you will NOT be disappointed. Come before Him humbly, receive from Him the grace and forgiveness your soul so desparately longs for, and walk in newness of life.

Be blessed.