In the Presence
Today’s Practice of Praise introduces Bryan & Katie Torwalt’s beautiful worship song, “I’m a Lover of Your Presence”.The words are super simple, and basically proclaim that we love being in God’s presence. So, what is the point of that? I mean, wouldn’t it be better to just go ahead and exalt Him, rather than just say that we want to hang out with Him?
Sure, it is awesome to start out with thanksgiving and praise. So this song is a bit different from some of the others on this site that just dive in and worship.
But let’s not lose sight of the value of this particular type of worship song! Like the psalmists, it is a lovely thing to say to God:
“Hey Lord, I just really want to hang out with you!!” And I think, perhaps, that it is a lovely thing for Him to hear.
“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4
That is a singular, loving, adoration kind of praise. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear from your spouse, child, parent, friend: “You know, I just really like hanging out with you. I don’t even care what we do. Just being with you fills me up with all sorts of joy”!
Wow. That would be something to hear, yes? I think it gives our Lord joy, too.
Take a look at some of the lyrics in today’s song. Notice the similarities between the verse above and today’s song.
“Won’t You let this be a sacrifice
Let me dedicate my life to worship You…I’m a lover of Your presence
I’m a lover of Your presence, (etc.)…A passion stirring deep inside
You’re all that really satisfies, we worship You…
Love the Lord Thy God
One of the ways we reveal our love for God is when we choose Him. He tells us in both the Old and New Testaments that loving Him is our first job.
He says: Love the Lord Your God! Love Him with your heart, and soul, and strength, and mind. Love Him with your being.
He is worthy of this affection, this attention, this appreciation. Tell Him every day.
First thing. Last thing. All the time.
A Psalm for Contemplation
Read it slowly, and allow your heart to pray it, too.
“How lovely is Your dwelling place,
O LORD of Hosts!
My soul longs, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she places her young near Your altars,
O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.
How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
They are ever praising You.
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
even the autumn rain covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
until each appears before God in Zion.
O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.
Selah
Take notice of our shield, O God,
and look with favor on the face of Your anointed.
For better is one day in Your courts
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;
the LORD gives grace and glory;
He withholds no good thing
from those who walk with integrity.
O LORD of Hosts,
how blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalm 84
Isn’t that a beautiful psalm?
We are lovers of Jesus, we are worshipers of His Father. We would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of our God, than dwell in luxurious tents with the wicked.
Imagine with me a possible scene…
A Story of a Feast
We are His grateful children, outside playing, working, going about our tasks, when we suddenly stop–what is that sound? We’ve been summoned by the dinner bell!
And when we hear that familiar sound, we stop what we are doing at once, run inside, and get ready for the feast! For we know that we shall soon be in His presence again!
We gather at the table and await the “feast before the feast”. For of this first part, this best part, we partake at the start.
Seated about the great banqueting table, we silently fix our eyes upon Him, watching His face, as He takes His place at the head of the table.
We expectantly await the moment when he notices us. He slowly regards each of us, one by one, in turn. We, His adoring children, watch Him as regards each of us.
His loving eyes bequeath the daily blessing, really all the food and drink our soul requires. He bestows the grace upon each of us, with Just That Look.
That look of deep and eternal love, that look which takes our breath away, as we at once understand that we are seen and known and regarded by Him as the treasures that we are. We see our fellows smitten with adoration. They, too are filled with the deepest affection that our small hearts can give in return for His agape love.
Soon it will be our turn, and like our brothers and sisters around the table, we will hold His gaze just as long as we can, each day perhaps a little longer. But like yesterday, and the one before, and all the days we’ve been here, we must at last drop our gaze, in overflowing gratitude, accompanied with a great and soothing peace.
Eventually all of us, heads bowed and faces glowing, hear Him sigh. That deep, relaxing, satisfied sigh.
And we look up to Him, at the head of the table, as He breaks the bread in celebration of our reunion. We raise our glasses, all around, and toast the Giver of the feast. Then the music, and the dancing, and the singing, as all of us unite our beings as one in our worship of His Majesty.
That’s how I imagine it, anyway, as I contemplate the power of His presence.
I contemplate those endless days to come, full of beauty, full of joy, full of wonder. For one day we will be united with Him at last, and our joy will know no end. Because, you know, one day we will never leave His presence.
His Presence is Everything
And now? Now we know in part, we celebrate in part, we behold Him yet dimly, watching for a glimpse of Him through this earthly veil that obscures so much of His glory. And we sing.
We worship. We lift up our heads. We lift up our hearts. We behold His works.
We see His fingerprints on everything of worth, and beauty, and perfection around us. We are lovers of His presence. That’s where we want to be!
