If you are anything like me, painful memories can cause us to wince when similar scenarios threaten to be repeated. Often the fear of such situations can cause me to close doors or build walls in attempt to keep me from ever experiencing that same pain ever again.
Unfortunately, the doors, walls or layers we build can often be a barrier to the redemptive work of God, who has our best interest at heart. Though pain, suffering and evil may cause us to retreat to lower forms of self-preservation, we were made to be in a secure and intimate relationship with God.
While reading Psalm 24 this past week, I was moved by the psalmists who calls us to remember the glory and majesty of our Creator-God. As I consider this passage, I can't help but think of all the times our heads drop, our focus goes inward and our eyes begin looking at lower things. It is so easy to drift into an empty existence where the noise of issues and stresses are allowed to dominate our perspective without the proper context of God's loving and redemptive pursuit.
If you find yourself hiding in seclusion behind fortified walls of self-preservation, may you receive this call to open up your gates and let the King of Glory come in. May you find the strength to trust the Lord as you provider, protector and hope of salvation. May He lead you in paths of righteousness and heavenly purposes today.
Psalm 24:7-10
7 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty;
the LORD, invincible in battle.
9 Open up, ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
10 Who is the King of glory?
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies—
he is the King of glory.