seek his face

Reading Psalm 27 this morning, I had one of those moments.  As if I were squinting, trying to see what lies before me…. and then clarity came. My emotional state, my behavior, and the truth came together and I realized something.

I am so often my own worst enemy.

King David wrote Psalm 27 as he cried out to God to be delivered from his enemies. As I read, I thought… no one poses a threat to me as much as I do right now. I am making such poor choices right now. How can I possibly succeed when I am eating poorly, staying up late, procrastinating instead of preparing for homeschool, etc…

David writes that his deliverance, his safety comes only from God.  He says that the one thing he wants is to be with God. He knows that only God can hide him, only God can keep him safe from his enemies.

And so it is with me. Only God can keep me safe from myself! Like David, I must choose to seek God’s face so that I can rest safely in his presence. Only then can I learn from Him. So often, I try to learn from Him… but I have put myself at such a distance that I can barely hear His instruction.

This morning, I tried to live out David’s challenge to seek the face of the Lord. I closed my eyes and imagined myself walking on the beach. I saw Jesus standing near the shore and I sought Him, embraced Him, and looked in His face. What I saw and heard touched my heart so deeply. I was delivered from myself at that moment.

¹ The LORD is your light and your salvation— whom shall you fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of your life—of whom shall you be afraid?

² When evil men advance against you to devour your flesh,
when your enemies and your foes attack you, they will stumble and fall.

³ Though an army besiege you, your heart will not fear;
though war break out against you, even then you can be confident.

⁴ One thing you can ask of Me, that I long for you to experience:
that you may dwell in My house, the house of the LORD all the days of your life,
to gaze upon the beauty of My presence  and to find Me where I dwell.

⁵ For in the day of trouble I will keep you safe in My dwelling;
I will hide you in the shelter of My tabernacle and set you high upon a rock.

⁶ Then your head will be exalted above the enemies who surround you;
In My presence you will shout for joy; you will sing and make music because of what I have done for you.

⁷ I always hear your voice when you call Me;  I will be merciful to you and answer you.

⁸ Does your heart say, “Seek His face”? I long to hear you say, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

⁹ I will never hide My face from you, I will not turn you away in anger;
I am your helper. I will not reject you or forsake you, I am your Savior.

¹⁰ Though your father and mother may have forsaken you, I the LORD will receive you.

¹¹ I will teach you My ways, I will lead you in a straight path in spite of your oppressors.

¹² Do not fear the desire of your foes, nor false witnesses that rise up against you, breathing out violence.

¹³ Be confident of this: you will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on Me, My child; be strong and take heart and wait for Me.

Psalm 27