Joy and longing

C.S. Lewis' Reflections on the Psalms:
"These poets knew far less reason than we for loving God. They did not know that He offered them eternal joy; still less that He would die to win it for them. Yet they expressed a longing for Him, for His mere presence, which comes only to the best Christians or to Christians in their best moments. They long to live all their days in the Temple so that they may constantly see "the fair beauty of the Lord" (Ps. 27:4). Their longing to go up to Jerusalem and "appear before the presence of God" is like a physical thirst (42). From Jerusalem His presence flashes out "in perfect beauty" (50:2). Lacking that encounter with Him, their souls are parched like a waterless countryside (63:2). They crave to be "satisfied with the pleasures" of His house (65:4). Only there can they be at ease, like a bird in the nest (84:3). One day of those "pleasures" is better than a lifetime spent elsewhere (10)."


Brothers and sisters, we are in the "year of the Lord's favor" (Is. 61:2). The Temple, the very presence of God, dwells within us!!! How much more must we long for His presence with every moment of our living? How much more must we pray that He purify us and burn away anything that dwells in this temple that is crowding His space? Feed that longing. Press into God, don't ignore it. Remove the obstacles (Is 57:14) that are disrupting the "Way of Holiness" (Is. 35:8). He calls us to "prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God" (Is. 40:3-5),(Is. 43:16). We are His sons and daughters! He made us to act for His glory! We are part of the story. As we follow the way He has prepared and act according to what He says, He takes care of the rest and He is with us every step of the way (Is. 41:18), (Is. 43:2). He is to be trusted. He is to be praised!


I highly recommend reading [Psalm 63, Isaiah 40-45].