Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalm 84:4 (New Living Translation)

4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.

What joy it is to be near God. The first verse of this Psalm tells us,

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Where God dwells is lovely. It doesn’t matter if it is on the top of a frozen mountain, in the middle of hot and parched sand, or in a green pasture. It is lovely where God dwells. And God dwells everywhere. God dwells in the heart of every believer as we each wander this God-given planet in our lives.

Cramped seat on an airplane with dry air flying coast-to-coast. God dwells there and it is lovely.

Stuck in traffic try to get to a boring job. God dwells there and it is lovely.

Really? Really. God help me to see and experience how lovely it is. Help me to have the joy that is promised.