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Explore the Bible Lesson for July 2: His Presence
Emily Carter, member, University Hills Baptist Church, Charlotte
June 13, 2017
2 MIN READ TIME

Explore the Bible Lesson for July 2: His Presence

Explore the Bible Lesson for July 2: His Presence
Emily Carter, member, University Hills Baptist Church, Charlotte
June 13, 2017

Focal Passage: Psalm 84:1-12

I was a good teenager, but one night I left a church youth event, and after dropping off a friend at her house, I headed back into town to hang out with friends from school. No problem, I still had two hours until curfew.

Except the father of the girl I dropped off called my dad and said I was on my way home.
Since this was before everyone had a cell phone, you can imagine my dad’s worry as he searched for me not knowing where I was. When I got home, my father was both relieved and annoyed, so much so that he didn’t speak to me until the next morning.

His worry had been relieved, but he was undone. From that point forward, I called before starting to drive home. Why? Because my father, who loved me, was waiting for me.

In the same way, the Heavenly Father wants us home and in His presence. Does your soul yearn for the courts of the Lord? Does your heart and flesh cry out for the living God? (Psalm 84:2) Is it your passion to worship the Lord?

Verses five through seven point out that as we focus on God, even as we go through hard times, His strength will be ours. Praising God strengthens us and pleases Him.

The Psalmist seeks God’s favor through prayer. Prayer is powerful and effective. We should take it seriously. Just as I never took my earthly father’s words for granted after that night, we should also not take for granted that we can go before our heavenly Father’s throne at any time and for any reason (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Thankfully our Father in heaven is not searching frantically for us. He knows where we are, and He is waiting patiently for us to arrive home.

He longs for us to be with Him. I can think of nothing better than being in His presence.