Enjoying God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 30:12–33:9 
Galatians 5:1-12 
Psalm 63:1-11 
Proverbs 23:22

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV) "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I have chosen a larger than normal passage for our Verses for Today. Each verse was so special that I just couldn't decide which one to leave out. So, I included them all.

Essentially, the Psalmist is speaking of how much he craves and enjoys his God. Just like someone who is dying of thirst would crave water, so he craved to enjoy his God.

But he's more specific than that. There is a concrete, objective reason why he enjoys his God so much. In verse 2, the writer recounts how he has meditated on his God in the sanctuary and been overwhelmed with thoughts of God's power and glory. In verse 2, the writer acknowledges that thinking about and experiencing God's love for him is better than anything life has to offer.

These are just some of the reasons why the Psalmist is enjoying his God.

Friend, are you enjoying God? Do you crave Him like someone craves water who is dying of thirst? Do you meditate on His attributes (power, glory, love, etc.)?

Christianity certainly has it's God-given aspects of religion. But, ultimately, it is a relationship! It is an invitation into a relationship with the God who made us. And that relationship will never, ever reach a point where we grow bored of it. There is always more of God to learn about and enjoy.

So, today, reengage in the adventure. Know and enjoy your God. He's been reaching out to you and simply waiting on you to reach back.

Enjoying God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Job 28:1–30:31 
2 Corinthians 2:12-17 
Psalm 42:1-11 
Proverbs 22:7

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT) "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

As we read our Verse for Today, we come to realize something profound - there may be more, much more, to the Christian life than we are presently enjoying.

When we read the words of the Psalmist, we hear him compare his current condition to that of a thirsty deer. That animal cannot help but long for streams of water to satisfy its thirst. It knows that water will meet the deep need of its being.

The Psalmist said that he felt like that. Except that his thirst wasn't physical; it was spiritual. And he wasn't focused on water but on God. He knew that the longing deep in his soul could only be met in relationship with God.

Far too many Christians don't realize that there is a relationship with God that can satisfy their deepest longing. Verses like some of those that follow testify to the fact that there have been guys who did realize this truth...

Exodus 33:18 (NLT) "Moses responded, 'Then show me your glorious presence.'"

Psalm 63:1 (NLT) "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water."

Isaiah 26:8-9 (NLT) "LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right."

Philippians 3:8 (NLT) "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ"

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NLT) "'If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,' says the LORD..."

On and on these verses could go. Men and women through the ages have realized that there is so much more to Christianity than simply getting a ticket to Heaven. It is ultimately an invitation to enjoy God in this life and in the life to come.

Are you currently enjoying God so much that your heart is bursting with joy? Then, there is so much more for you to enjoy, friend. Have fun pursuing the God of all creation!

When praise is natural

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Nehemiah 5:14–7:73a 
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 
Psalm 33:1-11 
Proverbs 21:8-10

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 33:1 (ESV) "Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Did you know that there is a difference between giving thanks to God and offering praise to Him? 

Essentially, we thank God for what He has done and we praise Him for who He is. 

Thanksgiving focuses on God's actions. Praise focuses on God's essence.

When we read our Verse for Today, we hear the Psalmist say that praising God "befits the upright." That means that it is absolutely appropriate, even expected, for the upright to praise the Lord.

Essentially, that means that when someone is a God-follower and comes to a greater understanding of who He is and how wonderful He is, it is only natural to expect that person to praise God.

This past summer, my family went to the Grand Canyon. We determined to go because my wife (who is the only one in our family who has been there) told us we would enjoy it. When we arrived and saw the breathtaking view, it was only natural to gawk. It was only natural that we smiled. It was only natural that we expressed our amazement at the views to each other.

That's what the Psalmist is saying. Someone who has come to a greater understanding of how wonderful God is will naturally express it in the activity of praise. 

So, we can also draw the opposite conclusion: Someone who doesn't praise God hasn't really come to know Him and enjoy Him.

This, my friend, is definitely something to think about.

I want my joy back!

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Ezra 8:21–9:15 
1 Corinthians 5:1-13 
Psalm 31:1-8 
Proverbs 21:1-2

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Proverbs 21:2 (CSB) "All a person's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs hearts."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

All too often the average Christian can shake their head in affirmation with the lyrics of an old Keith Green song:

"My eyes are dry, My faith is old, My heart is hard, My prayers are cold. And I know how I ought to be, Alive to You and dead to me."

All too often, we could easily lament our spiritual declension. However, we typically don't. We typically go on about our business assuming that things are alright between us and God. 

Yet, there is no compelling desire to remain in unbroken prayer with the Lord. There is no joy within us that causes us to "sing and make melody to the Lord in our hearts" (Ephesians 5:19). There remains shattered relationships that we don't seek to mend. Our Bibles collect dust throughout the week. We get very little out of the worship services at our local church.

And we wonder what's wrong. 

Or, worse yet, we assume that this is what the Christian life is supposed to look like and we don't assume that something is wrong.

Well, it's quite possible that if this is our experience, we need to do a little soul searching. To be even more specific, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to do some soul searching in us.

Because, more than likely, there are hidden sins in the corners of our minds and hearts that are blocking us from experiencing the power and joy of God's presence. Satan wants for nothing more than for those unconfessed, un-dealt-with sins to remain unresolved.

But, we desperately need help in this. We simply lack the ability to do a personal, deep, soul-cleaning.

Proverbs 21:2 (CSB) "All a person's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs hearts."

Do you desire for more of God? Do you want more joy than you presently have? Do you want God to have free reign in you so that He can do God-things through you?

Essentially, do you want revival?

Then, don't assume that simply because your ways seem right to you that everything is OK. Ask the Lord to search your heart and listen to what He will say.

Hints:
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any area that needs attention / confession.

- Spend reflective time in God's Word constantly comparing yourself to the standard in Scripture. (Consider journaling your journey.)

- Ask a close friend(s) to help you on this journey by pointing out areas of concern that they have noticed. Give them permission to ask you some tough questions that will make you very uncomfortable but will work toward a deep, soul-cleaning. Be ready to confess (agree with God that it is sin) and repent (turn from the sin with the intention to not do it again) of anything that comes up.

- You may also need to spend some time with a Christian counselor who has the skill to ask probing questions and help you deal with what gets brought up.

Taking a Spiritual Bath

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Chronicles 14:1–16:14 
Romans 9:1-24 
Psalm 19:1-14 
Proverbs 20:1

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 19:12-14 (CSB)

12 "Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults." 

13 "Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion." 

14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The Christian life is one of compliance and of joy. 

It is compliance because God has made His standard clear and we are called to obey.

It is joy because we realize that as we obey our Lord, our consciences will be clear and we are free to enjoy fellowship with our God.

But, sin stands in the way. There is a hidden part of us that wars against us. It's called "the flesh." And it regularly calls us to stray from the path of holiness that God has called us to walk upon.

So, it must also be the regularly duty of the serious Jesus-follower to take a spiritual bath. We need to get cleaned up after we sin and so confession and repentance are necessary.

Our Verses for Today lead us in that discipline. In fact, they provide us with the words of a prayer that we could offer up regularly.

First, our spiritual cleansing begins with an acknowledgement that we have probably committed sins without even knowing it. Maybe we are unaware of some command God has given or we weren't paying attention to what we did. So, we ask for forgiveness for our unintended sins:

Psalm 19:12 "Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults."

Second, we acknowledge that there are certainly things we have done (or left undone) that violated God's commands. Or, maybe we did a good thing but with the wrong motive or attitude. So, we confess these sins specifically and ask that God would keep us from doing them in the future. 

Psalm 19:13 "Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion." 

Finally, we ask that the Lord would give us what we need to not only comply with God's commands with our actions, but also with our words and the private thoughts of our heart. We don't just ask for forgiveness - we crave to live in holiness.

Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

So, the question remains, friend: Are you serious about following Jesus? Have you genuinely given your life, all of it, to Him and is it your desire to live for him in the moments of your days?

Then, you've got to take daily, spiritual baths. Consider using Psalm 19:12-14 to do that.

Humbling ourselves before God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Kings 22:1-53 
Acts 13:16-41 
Psalm 138:1-8 
Proverbs 17:17-18

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 138:6 (CSB) "Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the humble; but he knows the haughty from a distance."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today reminds us of a couple of very important truths:

The Lord is exalted. Bringing other Scriptural truths to bear upon this verse, we recognize that God is above all else. There is none like Him. He is the ruler of Creation and the posture most fitting (and enjoyable) for us is kneeling and bowing before Him.

As the most high and exalted over Creation, we are surprised to read the next part of the verse.

He enjoys those who are humble. Yet, He "knows the haughty from a distance" which means there is no relationship with them.

God is attracted to humility. The attribute of thinking of others more than we do ourselves was evidenced even by His own Son (see Philippians 2:3-11).

So, humble yourself before God today. Recognize your dependence upon Him. Demonstrate that dependence by spending time listening to Him in your Bible reading. Further demonstrate it by offering up prayers throughout the day anytime you have a decision to make, a need to be met, or a moment to share. Recognize that He wants you to enjoy Him but you cannot do that when you have unconfessed sin in your heart so be quick to confess and repent of (turn from) any sin that you are aware of.

Friend, most certainly there is more of God to enjoy than you are presently experiencing. So, take the steps to increase your happiness by submitting to God and deepening your relationship with the One you were made to worship.

Fear is a pathway to joy

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Ruth 2:1–4:22 
John 4:43-54 
Psalm 105:16-36 
Proverbs 14:26-27

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 14:26-27 (CSB) "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In my Bible reading this morning, I came across a phrase that is used often in Scripture: "the fear of the Lord."

Proverbs 14:26-27 (CSB) "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death."

Because so many people misunderstand that phrase, they find it utterly distasteful and maybe even abhorrent. They don't want to serve a God that they should fear.

Yet, when we properly understand that phrase, we realize that God is calling us to satisfy our desire for joy. Yes, you understood that correctly - fear is a pathway to joy.

Let me illustrate...

This summer, my family and a group of 7 others from Westside Baptist Church will make our way to Denver where we will work alongside some church planters at Calvary Denver. When our week of service is complete, my family has plans to head to the Grand Canyon.

Back in 1997, Kim visited the Grand Canyon with a female co-worker when work sent them out to Phoenix. Neither my sons nor I have experienced it yet. For the past 20 years, Kim has periodically told me about that trip. That 'hole in the ground' made such an impact on her that she still gets a far-off look in her eyes when she tells me about it.

What was so special about it? The colors. The vastness. But also the fear.

You see, people typically don't like to view the Grand Canyon from the parking lot. They like to step up to the railing. As they look over the railing, they see that they are standing on the edge of a cliff. That metal barrier is the only thing protecting them from falling hundreds of feet to their death. Their heart is racing, they are captivated by the beauty, they are afraid ... and they love it! That's part of the experience!

That's how God wants us to enjoy Him. To come to a greater awareness of His beauty. To understand Him more fully and enjoy His presence. But, also to understand that His power is infinite, we are frail, and we are at His mercy. Basking in His love but also in His holiness and infinite power, there is fear ... but we love it!

So, friend, "the fear of the Lord" should never cause us to get a bitter taste in our mouth. It is a call to enjoy our God. Why not ask Him to help you develop a little bit more "fear of the Lord" today?

Why God needs to be first place

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 9:22–10:18 
Luke 24:13-53 
Psalm 100:1-5 
Proverbs 14:11-12

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Judges 10:14 (CSB) "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you whenever you are oppressed."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In our Bible reading today, we came across a verse that told us what was going on in the hearts and actions of the Israelites...

Judges 10:6 "Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not worship him."

Verses like these appear through the entirety of the book of Judges. It's what happens when a people are not led by a godly leader who calls them to holiness and demonstrates what that looks like in his own life.

It also illustrates what our own hearts do all too often. Instead of serving the one true God, we set up other gods: our jobs, our pursuit of success/wealth, our kids, entertainment, sports, etc.

Well, when we look back at the Verse for Today, we see that one of the "benefits" of serving the one true God is that we have a refuge when life gets tough. But, the "gods" we typically serve can do nothing about it. They cannot help. And so God's comments to the wayward Israelites was intended to point out that they had been serving something that couldn't help them when they were in trouble.

Judges 10:14 (CSB) "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them deliver you whenever you are oppressed."

Sometimes, our "gods" can numb us to the pain of life's trials but they cannot ultimately give us a right perspective and healing relief. 

So, we are reminded of yet one more reason why we must serve and love our God supremely; why He must be first place in our life; why nothing else can even come close to Him.

While keep God first place in our hearts is certainly for His glory, it is also for our good. Keeping God first place in our hearts is ultimately for our own good.

The heavens praise our God

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-26
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 89:5 "LORD, the heavens praise your wonders - your faithfulness also - in the assembly of the holy ones."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Looking up into a night sky can be a humbling and exhilarating experience. Yet, the naked eye can see only so much. A powerful telescope will reveal even more wonders. Yet, even then, there are things we cannot see that the Hubble Telescope has captured. Yet, even the Hubble has not captured images anywhere near the edge of our universe ... if, in fact, there is an "edge."

To state is simply, it is spectacular and massive out there! And the Psalmist in our text joins the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans in saying that the sky above gives us plenty of reason to praise our God:

Romans 1:20 (CSB) "For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made..."

What are these verses telling us? That as we explore and enjoy the beauty and immensity of space around us, we come to understand a little bit more of how wonderful our God is!

It calls us to praise Him! 

"Lord, my mind can't comprehend how massive it is out there. How infinitely powerful you must be to simply have spoken it all into existence!"

"Lord, I've seen pictures of beautiful galaxies and gas plumes that result from exploding stars that are absolutely breathtaking. How creative and artistic you must be!"

This is what the Psalmist meant when He said "the heavens praise Your wonders." It is God's handiwork and demonstrates for us some incredible attributes of the God we love and serve.

So, today, look around you. Look above you this evening. Be caught up in the wonderful of our world and universe. And then let it move you to praise our great and awesome God.

pic taken by Hubble Telescope

The source of happiness

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 11:1-12:24
Luke 17:11-37
Psalm 84:1-12
Proverbs 13:5-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 84:10-12 (CSB) "Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verses that I have chosen for today are incredible! To keep our focus on them, I will only add two very short insights:

1. The Psalmist acknowledges over and over in this Psalm that our craving for happiness can be met in the Lord. (Christianity is not merely a religion, it is a relationship.)

2. Regardless of what "bad" things happen to us and around us, if we recognize that our God is good and that our craving for happiness can be met in Him, then we are in a much better position to deal with the trials that come our way.

Denying self - following Jesus

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 32:1-33:39
Luke 4:31-5:11
Psalm 64:1-10
Proverbs 11:22

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 5:11 (CSB) "Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him (Jesus)."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The verse for today is a beautiful and powerful word picture.

For those involved in the original story, it meant that they gave up their fishing aspirations. They gave up what they knew and what they had planned to do the rest of their lives. They gave it up because they couldn't be fishermen and follow Jesus at the same time, so they gave up fishing and followed Jesus.

For us, it is a clear reminder of what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus. To fully follow Jesus, it means that we give up good things in order to gain better things.

Luke 9:23 (CSB) "Then he said to them all, 'If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.'"

Did you get that? Jesus said that if we are to follow him, we must do as the disciples did. We must abandon things. 

What specifically must we abandon? Self! In order to follow Jesus, we must regularly say 'no' to any desire that we have that does not originate in a desire to follow and glorify Jesus.

But, in so doing, we will find the greatest joy. It doesn't mean that life will be easier. It simply means that we will be living a life of eternal significance and developing greater fellowship with the God who loves us.

Someone who regularly denies themselves, submits to Christ's authority, and follows Him realizes that there is incredible joy in doing so. 

Are you following Jesus?

Enjoying God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Numbers 30:1-31:54
Luke 4:1-30
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 11:20-21

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 63:1 (CSB) "God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalms is a book filled with emotion. The authors express negative emotions such as their frustration that arise from doubts, bears, anxieties, and unanswered questions.

But, the biblical authors are just as likely to express positive emotions such as love, passion, joy, and so much more.

In our verse for the day, we see the Psalmist filled with joy and passion. He realizes that his God has always meant for us to enjoy Him. And the Psalmist is painting a very powerful word picture to express just how much he wants to experience and enjoy his God.

Psalm 63:1 (CSB) "God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water."

It's almost like the Psalmist is a child desperately wanting to barge into a candy shop to satisfy his craving.

This may be a good time to do a little self-reflection. Are you currently enjoying your God? If not, have you experienced Him so powerfully that He is your all-consuming desire? Do you at least want to enjoy Him?

Even though there are aspects of religion to Christianity, it is a relationship at its core. God wants you to enjoy Him.

Why not spend some time today asking God to do whatever He must in your life to get you to a place where you can enjoy Him?

Enjoying God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 35:10-36:38 

Matthew 27:32-66 

Psalm 34:1-10 

Proverbs 9:7-8

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 34:3 "Come, let us tell of the LORD's greatness; let us exalt his name together."


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In this morning's reading, we observed Jesus as He hung on the cross and died. This is the climax of redemption history. Everything hinged on the cross and the empty tomb. If it were not for Jesus' sacrificial death on our behalf, we would be forever doomed to spend eternity in Hell apart from God.

But, the cross remedied that problem. It revealed how much our God loves us by showing us the lengths to which He would go to bring us to Himself. It also revealed how serious sin is by showing us the price He had to pay to redeem us.

Throughout this narrative, there are snippets that are worthy of much reflection. But, this morning, I simply want to point out one...

Matthew 27:50-51a "Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom..."

When Jesus died, we are told that the "curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two." This is referring to the veil that separated the front part of the Temple from the back 1/3 where God resided (the Holy of Holies).

This curtain might as well have been a massive concrete wall. God had made it clear in the Old Testament that anyone who stepped behind the curtain would die.

Leviticus 16 tells us that there was only one man on one day who could step behind that curtain. It was the High Priest and only on the Day of Atonement. And even then, he had better be sure to do it the way God had prescribed or he would die.

Stepping behind the curtain to be in God's presence in any other way would be a death sentence.

Yet, when Jesus died on the cross paying the sin debt of all who would believe, the curtain was pulled wide open. God was saying: "Because of Jesus' sacrificial death on your behalf, the worshiper may now enter My presence. As you rely upon Jesus' forgiveness and righteousness, you are now pleasing in My sight."

Notice which direction the curtain was ripped. It was not ripped from man to God. We could never force our way into God's presence uninvited. It was ripped from Heaven to earth. It was God who offered the invitation.

Now, the question remains whether we will take advantage of this unspeakable opportunity. The curtain has been ripped open - will you step behind it into God's presence this day and enjoy Him?

The light of His presence

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 34:1-35:9 

Matthew 27:15-31 

Psalm 33:12-22 

Proverbs 9:1-6

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 33:12 "What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance." 


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

A heart that is hungry to enjoy its God will find its curiosity peeked in these chapters. 

In Exodus, we see a man who craved in his innermost being to experience God's glory (see Exodus 33:18). In the very next chapter, we learn that Moses was (temporarily) changed by the experience.

Notice what being with God did to Moses...

Exodus 34:29-30 "When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him."

His face was shining! But, where did that light come from?

Have you ever heard of "the glory of the Lord"? Remember when the shepherds were out in the field when Jesus was born in Bethlehem and "the glory of the Lord shown all around them?" (see Luke 2:9).

The glory of the Lord, the radiant light that emanates from His presence, appears to be something to behold. Moses cried out to see it (Exodus 33:18). Peter wished that he could continue to experience it (Matthew 17:14). 

When we read things like this, we come to realize that there is much more of God to enjoy than we are presently experiencing. There is so much more of Him to know (see Philippians 3:10). So much more to enjoy (Psalm 42:1-2).

So, why do we settle so often for lesser things when God Himself is there, inviting us into a deeper fellowship with Him so that we can enjoy Him.

If we cultivate this kind of relationship, while there may not be a physical light that emanates from our faces, there will be a glow. People will be able to see that we've been with Jesus (see Acts 4:13).

Enjoying God

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Exodus 15:19-17:7

Matthew 22:1-33

Psalm 27:1-6

Proverbs 6:20-26

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 27:4 (NLT) "The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

The language of the verse for today shows a man who knew and loved his God. Showing up to the Temple wasn't something to check off his 'To Do' list - it was something that he desperately craved. It was the "one thing (he) asked of the LORD." It was "the thing (he) sought most." He realized that the LORD has intended for us to enjoy Him and he was enjoying that truth.

I wonder how many of us are simply trying to live a moral life and to be a "good Christian." And I wonder how many are really, really enjoying the Lord. We say all the time that Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship - but too often we turn it into a dry, lifeless religion that lacks the joy of knowing God.

So, let's get really practical. How can we develop a relationship with the Lord where we are enjoying Him? Let me give you four points to ponder:

• Spend time listening to Him in His Word. Read your Bible daily. And I'm not talking about 5-10 minutes. Spend at least 30-60 minutes reading and pondering what God is saying. But, don't read it as a lifeless book - instead, read it as God's personal Word to you.

• Spend time speaking with Him in prayer. Don't just rattle off your requests. Share with the Lord exactly what is on your heart. If you feel like you need permission to let it all out in the presence of the Lord, read the book of Psalms. King David and the other psalmists were often incredibly 'real' with God and said things that we might not dare say in our own prayers. But, they were real and that's what relationship is all about. So, be open and honest with the Lord about everything - the good, the bad and the ugly. Rest in His love for you and let Him draw your heart closer to Him.

• Let difficulties cause you to lose your taste for sin. Oftentimes, it takes really painful ordeals in life to bring us to our senses. In the good times, when we aren't keenly aware of our need for God, we may tolerate sin in our life. Yet, when times get tough, God may cause us to see how clearly we need Him and how utterly self-defeating it is to do anything that would keep us from Him. It is in these times that we can learn to despise sin and lose our taste for it.

• Look for God's fingerprints around you. In the crazy, hectic pace of life, we often fail to see God's hands at work in the details. Yet, if we are looking, we will see acts of grace all around us. While we are not so egocentric as to think that God only demonstrates those acts of goodness on our behalf (there are so many other people that He loves, too), we realize that He is mindful enough to include us specifically in the details around us. Thank Him for each of those acts of kindness as you recognize them. (Reread that last sentence until you resolve to do it.) In seeing God at work all around you, you will come to see that He is to be enjoyed in every moment of our days.

There are many other ways that God works to invite us into deeper relationship with Him so that we can enjoy Him. But, from my own experience, these four are the biggies that God has used to help my wife and me enjoy Him more as the years go by.