April 17, 2011

Psalm 84 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 6:1-13, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, Judges 8

Journal Entry

Scripture

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. (v.5) ... They go from strength to strength (v. 7)."

Observation

I find it very interesting as I read verse 7, "They go from strength to strength." It basically conveys the idea of progress that people grow stronger and stronger. This is quite different from the reality of life's journey. Usually when we walk or run, we go from strength to weakness. We start strong & fresh at the beginning, but we grow weak as we continue. However, there is something strange about the Christian life. With God's supplying grace, we can experience a life going from strength to greater strength. How? It's when God becomes the strength of our lives (v. 5). When we run with God, we will experience God's divine strength everyday without growing weary. The main theme of this psalm is the psalmist's yearning to be with God. "My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord (v.1) ... 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 the wickedness" (v.10). In our passionate yearning for God, we find our strength in Him.

Application

As I continue to serve the Lord in the ministry, it's so easy to find myself operating out of my own strength, relying on my own plan, and striving after my own agenda. When I do it that way, it's quite expected that I would get tired. My energy level will go down, and I will grow weary and eventually burn out. How foolish it is to engage in God's work with my human strength! But I long to experience God's divine strength in my life. I know God will fuel me with His divine strength as I dwell in His presence everyday.

Prayer

Lord, I long to be in your presence today. I would rather spend a day in your house than a thousand elsewhere. So, Lord, help me to learn how to follow you, how to allow you to take the lead in my life. Lord, I will keep my eyes upon you as I serve you today. With your abundant grace, I will experience your divine strength.

--Stephen Han