Lectionary verse: Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
Sometimes we find it hard enough to keep still in church for an hour on Sundays, that living in God's House all the days of our lives would seem like a punishment, not a pleasure. Yet for some people, the prospect of being in God's company all day, all week, all year round, is both comforting and delightful.
I have a cousin, on my mother's side, who is a nun in Germany. She was once part of a silent secluded order that was cut off from the rest of the world to live a life of prayer, solitude and devotion to God. Her family got to see her about once every seven years, but there was a glass partition between her and them. She could not touch them, be hugged by them, or be any part of their lives.
My cousin just loved being in contact with God so much that she could not bear to be apart from Him for any reason or anyone. However, as the years went by she missed her family and eventually left that order to join another one which specialized in community ministry.
Thankfully, we don't need to stay in God's house every moment of the day, because we're in God's presence every second of our life. Wherever we go, God is there, and so we can keep up that contact, that relationship, that prayer-life with Him for as long as we want to each day.
Prayer: Lord God, Your presence is always around us. In fact we live, move, and breathe in Your presence at all times. Thank You for allowing us this sacred contact with You. Help us not to take it for granted, but to seek times, places and opportunities to strengthen our relationship with You. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He writes the devotional blog “Heaven’s Highway.”
Today’s image is called “Springtime at the Cove.” It’s a part of John’s Appalachian art series. You can view a larger version here: http://wp.me/pc6mz-7Y
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