“On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. ” 2 Chronicles 7:10

This scripture comes at the end of a 7 day feast to celebrate the dedication of the temple that Solomon had built. It was the place where God had instructed they go to worship, and offer sacrifices in the OT.

I’m struck today by the way that it says they left. “With joyful and glad hearts” 💕. I remember as a child feeling this way as soon as I stepped out of the doors of the Louisville Methodist Church. Going away with a glad and joyful heart.

In the previous text it also describes fire from heaven and the Lord’s glory filling the house of the Lord. In response to this, they bowed down and worshipped. Awe and reverence. To be in the presence of God😍😭🔥.

When we experience the presence of God in his house, we leave with a glad, joyful heart, awe, reverence for who he is. We leave internally changed.

Can I be honest, and tell you who doesn’t leave changed? The ones who aren’t focused on the presence of God. The person who is immediately offended when they walk in the room. The one who is so focused on their own preferences for praise and worship or the sermon they feel fell flat. The one who surveys the room and starts to feel like an outsider. The one who wonders if any of this applies to them or if it even matters if you’re there. I’ve been that person. Making church about me instead of him. I have left and thought… “Eh”. And I’m broken by that. “Eh”… really.. to the presence of God? On those days, your church didn’t get it wrong. You did. 🫣. Church isn’t about you. It’s about God, and his presence should cause you to have awe, reverence and to leave with a joyful and glad heart. Not bc the music was good, the sermon was fire or you felt seen. Because you fixed your eyes on Jesus and experienced the presence of the Lord. Because HE was there… were you? When I was a small child this felt easier.

I pray you go to church, but that when you do, you lay down everything else and focus on the MAIN thing. I pray when you leave you feel joyful and glad, because you experienced the presence of Jesus.

Father God, forgive me for the times I have made it all about me. Create in me a pure heart oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me so that, I can be fully in your presence today. Holy Spirit prompt me to remain faithful because I am prone to wander. In Jesus name Amen.

Morning, it’s Bible and coffee time.

I’ve been studying David, which eventually leads to Solomon so that’s where my reading this morning has me.

King David (we all know most famously know him from David and Goliath). Reigned and then his son Solomon took his place. Solomon is called to build a permanent temple where the Ark can be placed. This is a physical dwelling where they can worship God, sacrifice offerings etc. In his dedication he says:

” The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to HIM, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statues and his rules, which he commanded our fathers.” 1 Kings 8: 57-58

Solomon knows. He knows we need to refocus our hearts TO God. Our hearts are more naturally inclined towards something else. I think for most people it’s inclined towards ourselves. Inward instead of upward. Our desires, needs, wants, dreams, bents, sins, feelings so many feelings. We make even our service about us.

I’m guilty of that. So much of our tension can be solved by repositioning that heart upward instead of inward. My thought pattern gets me. I spend countless hours marinating on questions. “What am I supposed to do? Where should I pour my attention? Should I go here or commit to there? Am I called to?” A million and one questions, and they all have one thing in common. “I”. Those are good questions to ask, but I can get wrapped up in them instead of wrapped up in HIM.

Where is your heart inclined today? Do we need a repositioning?

Later he says “Let your heart therefore be WHOLLY true to the Lord our God, walking in his statues and keeping his commandments, as at this day. ” 1 Kings 8:61

Heavenly Father, my heart is inclined inward. I pray that you will realign my heart to you, that I will not make this day that you’ve graciously given us about me and my wants, desires, pride, offensives, and instead WHOLLY inclined towards you. Holy Spirit prompt my thoughts and my heart towards the Father. In Jesus name, Amen.